Former boxing promoter, Martin Osaile, has condemned what he termed ‘political intervention’ in the 18th National Sports Festival, saying some teams are unnecessarily desperate to win medals at the games.
Osaile says the coming of foreigners into the national games shows some states want to win at all cost even if it means violating the rules of the competition.
“There is the need for politicians to tread with caution in the sports terrain especially after reports of the use of foreign athletes by states in their quest for medals at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Lagos,” Osaile says.
“If this continues, it will mean the final phase of the destruction of Nigerian sports by desperate governors who believes political intervention in the games will improve their profiles.”
Osaile is calling for adequate punishment of every official involved in desecrating the games.
He adds that the track of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the track events, be reinstalled after the games following reports that it was bumpy.
“The racing track has been changed three times within ten years. It should be a facility that can last for years no matter the condition. I hope the government looks into this after the games,” he says.