Games
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, March 12, 2018 (NAN) Some sports stakeholders on Monday said reducing the maximum age for participation in the National Youth Games (NYG) to 15 years from 17 years is a step in the right direction.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the age-limit reduction would give the athletes ample time to exhibit their talents for a bright future in sports.
Sylvester Ikuejamoye, the President of Nigeria Para-Swimming Federation (NPSF), commended the National Council on Sports and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for reducing the maximum age.
“This is a very good development for Nigeria sports. If I have my way, I would have even asked that it should be further reduced to under-13.
“But 15 years is wonderful because we cannot continue to carry tired legs.
“If we can identify athletes at 15, before they get to age 30 they would have served the country well and also make name for themselves.
“Once an athlete gets to 30 years, he or she should be preparing to leave active sports. So picking them from age 15 is welcome,” he said.
Florence Adeyanju, the founder of Nigeria Association of Women in Sports (NAWIS), said the NYG maximum age of 15 years was a good development for sports in Nigeria.
She said it was better to identify athletes before age 15 to give them ample time to continue to compete.
“At age 15, there is enough room for the athlete to exhibit his or her talent up to the elite level,’’ Adeyanju said.
Speaking on the National Sports Festival (NSF), Adeyanju also praised the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for coming to its rescue after six years.
“I thank the ministry for this initiative and urge it to ensure that the physically-challenged are allowed to feature at the NSF.
“The ministry’s approval to host the NSF in Abuja came as a rescue mission. Cross River was billed to host, but has not been able to host the festival in the past six years.
“Abuja is coming to rescue the festival and I am hoping that after this edition slated for November, things will return to normal,’’ she said.
Also speaking, the President of Para-Athletics Federation, Geoffrey Ogu, described the reduction of age-limit for participation in the NYG to 15 years as timely.
“Sports is better introduced to a person at a young age. So, age 15 is very okay. The earlier you introduce sports the better the athletes imbibed the skills effortlessly,’’ he said.
Ogu noted that this was why sports development should be taken back to the grassroots level, particularly at the schools.
On the NSF, Ogu said missing the festival for six years was a serious developmental gap that has been created in sports.
“I think it is better late than never. For over six years, the festival has not been held and we all know that the importance of the festival cannot be over-emphasised.
“NSF is the building ground from where we get athletes. And for us to have missed it for six years means we have created a generational gap in getting athletes that will replace the tired legs.
“It is a very serious developmental gap that must be corrected. So, I want to support Federal Government’s decision to host the festival in Abuja in its totality.
“I also want to appeal to government to avoid further occurrences,’’ he said.(NAN)
PI/DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)