Tokyo Olympics: Why Nigeria Can't Host Africa Athletics Championship - PTF

Tokyo Olympics: Why Nigeria Can't Host Africa Athletics Championship - PTF By Niyi Busari The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has said hosting of African Athletics Championship by Nigeria will constitute a threat to the gains that have been made by the Presidential Task Force on Covid 19, BSNSports.com.ng can report. The body said the decision was taken in the best interest of the country to curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the second phase. This is contained in a letter sent to the Ministey of Youth and Sports Development by the Presidential Task Force on Covid 19, titled: "Request For Nigeria To Host The 2021 Edition Of The African Athletics Championship" and signed by Assad Hassan, Deputy Head, Technical Secretariat Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19. The letter read: "The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 profoundly appreciates the continuous efforts of Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in engaging with PSC towards safeguarding athletes and general public within the context of Covid-19 pandemic. PSC Secretariat has engaged with the officials of Ministry of Sports regarding your request for Nigeria to host the 2021 edition of African Athletics Championship. After careful deliberation and consideration of the proposed event by the PSC during its meeting on 31st May 2021, the following concern were highlighted. It added, "Increasing trend of Covid 19 cases in certain countries coupled with the widespread prevalent of mutant strains of the virus outside Nigeria, which posses the risk of importation of the mutant strains. Recent re-institutionalisation of enforcement of Covid-19 Health Protection in the Country due to increasing non-adherence by the public of non-pharmaceutical intervention and other Covid-19 protocols. Delay in vaccinating a large proportion of citizenry due to a shortage in global supply of vaccines which translates to a risk of another wave of infection in the country. "Due to the above, it is considered opinion of the PSC that hosting the 2021 edition of African Athletics Championship at this time will constitute a threat to the gains that have been made by national response in mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic." With this development, Nigerian athletes hopes of picking Olympic tickets in the event have been dashed. The athletes had hoped to qualify for team events through the championship after failure to secure Olympic tickets at the US Invitational Meet. The championship was slated to be held in Lagos.