By Joseph Edegbo
Kaduna (Nigeria)- Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung has said that there is a pull down syndrome and self destruction in the sports family which must be discouraged.
Dalung stated this on Thursday at the meeting of the National Council on Sports held in Kaduna, Northwest of the country.
The Minister who did not expatiate however remarks “If we can give peace and unity to our country, what of ourselves”.
Dalung also noted with concern that those who contributed to the development of sports in the country have been forgotten as national awards are built around politicians, and therefore stressed the need for sports family to view the situation.
On the non hosting of the National Sports Festival since 2012 when it was last held in Lagos, the Minister said the situation has seriously affected sports development in Nigeria , especially at the State level as most athletes have always looked forward for the festival.
Dalung however said the National Youth Games which has been serving as a ground for the harvest of talents have been encouraging.
He said the disparity between the National Youth Games and what obtains at African, Commonwealth and Olympic Youth Games should however be aligned with the age of the athletes participating in the National Youth Games with that of the various international youth games.
Dalung noted with delight the democratization process of election into the board of National Sports Federation.
” Today, we proudly say that we have credible men and women at the helm of affairs of sports federation of Nigeria . This has resulted in the visible improvement in the performance of our athletes in various international competitions ” , he said.
The meeting attended by Commissioners for Sports from the 36 States of the Federation would adopt a revised National Sports Policy which had been in use since 2009.
