2018 NYG: Why Team Imo Gold Medal will not be Awarded.....Dr. Demola Are

Why Team Imo Gold medal will not be Awarded ...... Dr. Are By Niyi Busari Team Imo has won gold medal in the basketball game of the ongoing 4th National Youth Games in Ilorin by default; therefore, the medal will not be not presented to them, www.bsnsports.com.ng reports. BSN Sports scooped that six states registered for basketball in this year's National Youth Games but two of them failed to present their teams due financial constraints while disqualification of athletes during the screening exercise knocked three other states off. In the light of this, Imo state is the only team remained in basketball which makes them won the tournament without playing a single match. There was controversy over whether the purported gold won by default should be presented to the team. Speaking with www.bsnsports.com.ng, the Director of Grassroots Sports Development, Dr. Demola Are said that the gold medal won by Team Imo in basketball will not reflect on the medals table because there was no competition between the winner and also they did not play against other opponents before emerging champions. He stated further that it will be assumed that basketball is not included in this 4th National Youth Games because only one team registered. He stated further that the youth games aim and objective of discovering budding talents will be defeated if the medal is awarded to them. "No, Team Imo's purported gold won in basketball will not be awarded nor reflected on the medals table because there was no competition between the winner and other opponents. If we award the gold medal, that will not only set bad precedent but also the aim and objective of discovering budding talents from tournament will be defeated. He stated "For talents to be discovered and champions to emerge there must games played against registered states but their was nothing like that in this case. Therefore, the medals is not going to be awarded to Team Imo." Dr. Are concluded.