Sports Minister Decries Cheating, Overaged Athletes In National Youth Games

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has frowned at the flagrant abuse of rules governing the National Youth Games (NYG) as a competition for only athletes of under 15 years.

The just-concluded 6th edition of the National Youth Games will no doubt go down in the history as a tournament where Nigerian sports is taken many years backwards.

The sports minister had to voice out his disappointment with what happened in the course of the games in Ilorin from 10-19 October 2021 where some states in their bid to win at all costs fielded athletes who were visibly overaged to compete with the junior athletes from other states.

“I am totally disappointed,” said the minister while giving his closing remarks at a ceremony held at the Maracana Stadium of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State on Tuesday.

“We won’t accept incidents of age cheat happening in this kind of competition. The ministry will henceforth adopt more scientific mean to curb this atrocity and apply stringent measures against the athletes and states involved in the future.

“We must do this now in order to avoid losing our potential good athletes when we allow the fielding of overaged athletes in a competition like this.,” the minister said.

Delta State came first with 60 gold, 26 silver and 28 bronze medals, youthful Team Lagos were second with a total of 72 medals (19 gold, 25 silver and 28 bronze medals), while Team Edo were third with 18 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals.

While appreciating the participating athletes, Minister Dare said that “I have no doubt in my mind that the country will enjoy your skills in years to come.

He said the National Youth Games has been able to create a platform for the athletes to bond, network and make friends in a healthy rivalry environment.

“I am happy that these athletes have been able to do what they love to do during this competition,” he said.

No fewer than 3200 athletes took part in the tourney from 35 states in 34 sports.

The minister revealed that about 300 athletes were discovered in the course of the competition.

Kano state has been awarded the hosting right to host the school sports national tournament next year,