Are warns against age cheat at 2018 National Youth Games
The Director of Grassroots Sports at the federal ministry of youth and sports, Dr Ademola Are has warned against age cheat by athletes at the fourth edition of the National Youth Games, giving the warning, in a chat with Daily Trust, Are declared that the Local Organising Committee was ready to successfully stage the games, slated for September 7th -17th at the University of Ilorin Sports complex.
“The Federal government is on top of its game, everything is being put in place to ensure that we have a successful fourth National Youth Game at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. The University has been very enthusiastic about this fourth time around, they are doing everything possible, and they have given us the facilities and support staff to ensure that all things go well in the game.
“The Federal government is providing the much needed funds and all stakeholders that are involved in this game are going to be present, especially the Kwara state government and the University of Ilorin management who have been very supportive during this planning period”.
In the same vein, the director emphatically warned all participating states and athletes to avoid running foul of the laws prohibiting age cheats while revealing that stringent measures have been put in place to determine the actual ages of the athletes.
“The National Sports Federation has been mandated to ensure that they put everything in place most especially where it concerns the actual ages of the participants as they have the data on all these children. We want to avoid to a great extent, age cheat at this present games.
“In as much as we can’t avoid age cheat scenario entirely, strident measures are being put in place to put it at the barest minimum as children above the age of fifteen will not take part in this competition. To this effect all Directors of Sports, Commissioners of Sports and Governors have been tipped off that any state that contradicts the regulations will be fined and suspended, so we plead with everyone to be of good behaviour and do the right thing, in order to make our nation proud,” he stated.
Over 4,000 athletes drawn from the 36 states of the Federation, including the FCT will be participating in the 10 day event in 20 different sporting events.