Breaking! National Sports Festival Faces Postponement Again

  National Sports Festival Faces Postponement Again By Niyi Busari With nine days to the commencement of the National Sports Festival otherwise known as 'Edo 2020', the event is surrounded with doubts on whether or not it will hold as scheduled for February 14 to 28. It will be noted that, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki said the state was not buoyant enough to host the festival, fuelling speculations in some quarters that Edo 2020 National Sports Festival may have been dealt a final blow. In a statement made available to BSN Sports, Edo State government said: “COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the finances of various states and countries across the globe and Edo State is not left out. “If the Federal Government however, in its wisdom, decides to provide funding for the Games, we will be too willing to host the country. “Cancelling the game is not the solution to this issue. Beyond the game itself, there is the Tokyo Olympics to consider. We have to sit down and look at all these issues critically before reaching a final decision.” Meanwhile, the ministry of Youths and Sports Development is said to be in great dilemma on the possibility of providing the funds Edo State needs to host the Sports Festival. An official of the sports ministry told The Guardian that the minister, Sunday Dare, had not made any pronouncement on whether or not the presidency would raise any amount of money to assist Edo State to host the sports festival. “Honestly, we are in dilemma now because I don’t see the possibility of the sports ministry rushing to the presidency to ask for money for the sports festival. The Honourable Minister has not said anything about it. We are waiting to see how it will play out,” BSN Sports in a separate interview with a State Director of Sports who pleaded for anonymity stated that it will be difficult for the 2020 National Sports Festival to hold as scheduled. He raised concern over the silence on the part of the Government on how much and when they will give the host state the fund they asked for. He also added that about nine states have made up their minds that they will not be part of the National Sports Festival if it holds as scheduled. "I am not sure the National Sports Festival will hold as scheduled because the Federal Government has said anything on how much and when they will give financial assistance to Edo state. And till now there is no letter from the from the Ministry of Sports to the participating states. The one they sent to us in January this year was dated January 8, 2020. They should know that we can't work with that and should have sent another one before now. All these issues have created uncertainty on whether or not it will hold. If someone like me is having doubt about the commencement date, what happens to the athletes. In my interaction with other Director of Sports, nine of them have confided in me that their states will not partake in this year's National Sports Festival." He concluded. When BSN Sports contacted Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Sports, John Joshua Akanji, he said that he is not in position to talk about whether the Sports Festival will be postponed or not and directed our reporter to Secretary, Main Organising Committee (MOC), Dr. Peter Nelson. Nelson, however, denied the postponement and described it as rumor. "From wherever source you heard it, that is not authentic. Edo 2020 will hold as scheduled. They (State Commissioners of Sports) have received letters since January to that effect and those who didn't have the letter should go and confirm from their General Managers. When asked when and how much the Federal Government will give Edo State government money for smooth running of the festival. He refused to comment on the that and said: "I am not suppose to disclose that to you. Is it my responsibility disclose that to you? You know that I am a civil servant and I am not expected to talk to you unless I get clearance." The event also known as ‘Edo 2020’ was initially scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the lifting of restrictions on contact sports in October, the National Sports Council and the LOC fixed 3-18 December for the commencement of the event subject to approval by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19. The PTF, however, failed to grant approval leading to strong criticism from the Edo state deputy governor and LOC chairman Philip Shaibu who accused the Task Force of acting on bad advice. Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare announced February 14 as the commencement date for the Festival and 28 February as the closing date. With the Tokyo Games also holding this year and without plans for international competitions, camping for participating athletes, the National Sports Festival could act as a tune up for athletes looking to compete in Japan.