The 2019 National Youth Games is scheduled to hold from 7th to 17th September, 2019 at the University of Ilorin, Kwara state. The Director of Grassroots sports development, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr Ademola Are has warned against parading overage athletes at the forthcoming Games.
Dr Are told www.aclsports.com that the overage athletes cannot attend the Youth Games without the permission of the various directors of sports and commissioners.
He added that any state caught fielding athletes above 15 will be penalised.
He said, “First of all, the ministry of sports is appealing to the conscience of the directors of sports and the commissioners to make sure they do not bring overage athletes. You have to know that these athletes cannot just come on their own except they come under the banner of a particular state.
“The ministry of sports is expecting every state official to make sure they do proper screening before bring these athletes to the games. However if any athlete or state is found wanting then such state will be penalised”.
The director of grassroots said the ministry is ready to host the games and the Federal Government is doing everything possible to make sure the game is hitch free program.
He said, “The ministry is fully prepared and we have been attending series of meetings with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) that is the University of Ilorin officials and with the 36 directors of sports including inspections of the facilities and equipment.
“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to make sure we have another hitchfree program in Ilorin and also we want to bring in entertainment into this particular game so that we can create more awareness among the children in the nation”.
He further said, “Majority of the states have registered; the only state left hanging is Zamfara, but they have indicated interest to come over and I can tell you that the 36 states of the Federation will take part in this program”.
The immediate past sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung announced that only athletes below 15 years of age will be allowed to take part in the National Youth Games at the 2017 edition of the Youth Games
