The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports yesterday rescinded the decision to axe Paralympic sports from the National Sports Festival.
On Wednesday October 19, 2022, a decision was taken via a virtual meeting of the National Council on Sports to remove Para Sports from the 21st National Sports Festival to be hosted by Delta State.
According to a release signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, the ministry, after consultations with stakeholders, relisted Para sports to be competed for at the festival.
The events includes; Para Athletics, Para Table Tennis, Para Powerlifting and Deaf Sports of (Athletics and Table Tennis).
However, the ministry wishes to state that their events would be limited to where Nigeria has competitive advantages.
This decision was taken in the overall interest of Sports Development in Nigeria, as the National Sports Festival has become the flagship games for the discovery, grooming and empowerment of our youth athletes.
The Ministry condemns the behaviour of some misguided athletes who engaged in unwarranted acts of protests and blackmail without recourse to due process.
These actions which led to the disturbance of public peace and the good image of Sportsmen and women, especially with the recent public acceptance of the superlative performance of Team Nigeria at the 2022 Commonwealth Games is a breach of our Sports Ethical Code.
The Ministry wishes to state further that it will apply the rules in dealing with such acts in due course. Athletes must learn to follow the due process laid down for resolving issues.
The facts about this administration’s commitment to the upliftment of the Para Athletes and Parasports are in the public domain, well documented.
Para Athletes are therefore, advised to henceforth exhaust the channels of communication and processes laid down for airing grievances, rather than resort to public disturbance