Athletes and coaches participating at the ongoing seventh National Youth Games (NUG) in Asaba, Delta State have cried out over the lack of proper care and maltreatment at the games.
Disturbing images of the teenage participants at the games in filthy conditions went viral on Monday, causing outrage from the public. In the pictures, the athletes are seen in a dirty, cramped hall, sleeping on small, torn mattresses that are barely able to contain their body frames.
As seen in the photos, the athletes improvise by converting their bags to pillows, and their clothes as bedsheets and curtains to make the room cozy. There have also been complaints of poor feeding arrangements as well.
The NUG was initially scheduled to be held from September 7 to 17 but was later rescheduled for September 20 to 30. The Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC) Chairman, Tonobok Okowa, said the rescheduling affected accommodation arrangements, as most boarding schools were back in session and the DSSC could no longer secure hostel facilities as originally planned for the event.
Prior to the game, Okowa expressed concern regarding their failure to convince schools to let them use their facilities.“The only problem we envisaged is that the Games was being postponed to a time when schools had resumed.“The Federal College of Education (Technical) in Asaba and some other schools declined usage of their facilities as hostel for the Games,” he said. The DSSC Chairman who assured the athletes that adequate preparations would be made for them to be comfortable in the halls they would be sleeping in, failed on his promises however.
The young athletes were brought in and dumped in the empty halls with barely any beds and no coverings until a few beds were brought in Sunday. They also complained of poor feeding, as well as poor hygiene conditions.“Where we stay is very bad.“We slept on bare floor since we arrived in Asaba last Thursday. And when we were given beds, four of us shared one student bed until yesterday (Sunday) when we were given new mattresses.“The feeding has also been terrible and this has affected our performances in a way. I have to tell you that so far it has not been the best National Youth Games in Asaba,” one of the athletes said.
One of the coaches at the games also expressed his dissatisfaction with the poor arrangements.“No parent will be delighted to see how children are being treated here in Asaba.“These athletes are supposed to compete under better conditions so that they can give their best but that is not the case here. We will be happy with whatever performances they put up because the environment has not been the best,” he said.The Project Officer for hostel accommodation at the ongoing Games, Ademola Are, has however, said the pictures circulating do not depict the present condition of the athletes, but were taken at the “struggling stage” of the games.“The pictures that have been circulated were the ones taken at the earlier stage when we were still struggling to ensure that we house everybody,” Are said in a statement made available to The PUNCH.
“The Local Organising Committee had earlier alerted to possible squeeze on accommodation due to the postponement of the Games into a period when schools had resumed and earlier arrangements to secure hostel facilities were consequently declined by various schools.“The LOC duly communicated the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Committee of Directors of Sports and they gave the clear for improvisations to be made with halls and mattresses to make up for the expected shortfall.“The facility in question does not represent facilities in place. There are various other fully and well-bedded hostels in use at the Games,” Ademola said.
Since the unappealing images went viral on social media, many Nigerians have criticised the distasteful conditions that the students are being subjected to.
Many have called on the government to do better.”I have been in Asaba for the National Youth Games since Thursday…. Although it’s great to see the games back it’s important to address the fact that things could’ve been better planned. Stories of athletes sleeping in the stadium, officials unpaid etc.,” an X user, #MaxxyB wrote.”…we need to admit that it’s a national games & most of these concerns are in the purview of the federal government & the Sports Commission. In Delta State, the facilities are pretty much available & in good conditions,” another X user, #LaurentDarl wrote.
