The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has declared that technology will be deployed in the verification of athletes age for the forthcoming National Youth Games (NYG) to be staged in Delta state, this September.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry, Ismaila Abuibakar, disclosed this during 7th NYG joint technical committee meeting in Asaba, saying the Ministry would be partnering with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in addition to the deployment of the biometric system to verify athletes participating at the youth games.
He urged the states to present athletes within the age bracket of 15, for the under-15 games.
Abubakar, represented by the director, Federations and Elite Athletes Department, Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye, insists anyone who has not registered with the National Identity Management Commission can’t participate in the games.
“In order to check that states don’t bring athletes that are above 15, we are going to be using technology, and we are going to be using institutional framework to sieve out those (age cheaters),” he stated.
The host and Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, assured members of the joint committee that the state was ready to host a befitting youth games, stressing facilities used in hosting the recent sports festival in the state would be made available for the games.
“MOU was signed between the ministry of and Delta state government to host the next four editions of the youth game. Come September 7th to the 17th, it will be happening here live in Delta State,” Okowa said.
The participants discussed and made recommendations regarding their visit to the sports facilities, athletes village and hostels, including the need for a unified screening process, security and welfare of participating athletes.
Members of the committee also inspected facilities and hostel accommodation for athletes during the visit.
General Managers of Sports Commissions, Secretaries of Sports Federations and State Directors of Sports participated at the 7th National Youth Games Joint Technical Committee Meeting.
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