By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Project Director, Hostel and Accommodation for the ongoing 7th edition of the National Youth Games (NYG), Dr. Ademola Aare has dispelled rumours that some athletes who came for the ongoing games have no accommodation and sleeping on bare floor.
Dr. Aare made the remarks during a Press Conference at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba venue of the ongoing 7th National Youth Games.
Aare stated that the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the 7th NYG were adequately prepared for the games but owing to challenges with postponement of the games and coming up with a new date, it affected the plans of the MOC especially in the area of accommodation and logistics.
He said: “From the onset, at the beginning of the Youth Games, we actually earmarked some notable institutions in Asaba, Delta state because precisely everything about the Games must be within 30 kilometers radius so that nobody is too far away from their various venues. During preparations we were able to earmark Osadebe University, Infant Jesus and Academy Technical College. These are notable schools with good environment, good facilities, bunk beds and they are expected to take care of over 5000 athletes and officials.
“However, due to the postponement of the Games most of these institutions had to call back their students and as at the time the Games was going to take place they were already doing their examinations and we cannot drive them out to go back home without doing their examinations. Because of this, the Executive Governor of Delta State gave approval that we should just go ahead and make use of all the public schools available. Some of them have double bunks, some did not have. So, we needed to put some things on ground and the Ministry was adequately informed of this situation,” he said.
Aare affirmed that the MOC have and are still addressing challenges owing to the commencement of academic programmes by the public schools which did not favour the smooth running of the games.
The President of the Nigeria Rugby Football League (NRFF) informed that accommodation was on first come first served basis with Osadebe University expected to take care of 2500 Athletes and officials while Infant Jesus school was expected to take care of 1500 and Government Technical College with capacity to accommodate about 200 persons.
The vibrant sports administrator averred that alternative accommodation were made with boarding schools with mobile toilets and makeshift bathrooms to ensure that the children are adequately accommodated.
He also informed that some negative pictures that are been circulated online were the ones taken at the early stages when they were still struggling to ensure that all who turned up for the games were well accommodated.
