ALL Para-Sports events will feature at the 2018 National Youth Games (NYG), Ademola Are, the Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, has said.

Are told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that this has led the ministry into promising adequate support for the sports.

He said the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has promised to give para-sports adequate support to ensure that the sports feature in all international championships..

“We are going to feature all para-sports events at the 2018 NYG in Ilorin, which is slated for Sept. 7 to Sept. 17.

“This is for us to identify talents in para-sports who will be nurtured for international championships,’’ Are said.

Are added that para-sports have brought lots of glory to the country over the years and needed to be given adequate support.

He disclosed that this was why the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ilorin for the hosting of the games.

“We will continue with the Games which we have been doing in the past with the introduction of some new one sports, because everybody want to take part in the NYG.

“We want to try as much as possible to ensure that states obey rules and regulations of the programme and if any state goes against such rules, it will be sanctioned,’’ the ministry director said.

Are disclosed that Lagos state was fined N2.5 million for registering for the 2017 Games participate, while Zamfara was fined five million Naira for not participating in the Games.

“This was agreed upon at the meeting of all Directors of Sports, as part of the rules and regulations guiding the Games, before the 2017 edition of the games,’’ he said.

Are explained that the fines were to ensure that states took part in the Games, which was aimed at developing sports from the grassroots. (NAN)

– Mar. 27, 2018 @ 17:32 GMT |