Why Gombe Athletics Association Boycotted NEDC-Sponsored Event – Gara Gombe

Chairman, Gombe State Athletics Association (GSAA), Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has explained why they boycotted an athletics event sponsored by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) taking place at Pantami Stadium in Gombe.

Gara, in a press statement released on Tuesday, warned any athlete under the GAA to steer clear of the event as it falls short of standardisation.

He also disclosed that no member of Nigeria Athletics Association of Technical Officials (NAATO) should participate in the event scheduled to commence yesterday, October 22, 2024 at the Pantami Stadium, saying while it is being sponsored by the NEDC, the people organising it are faceless and unknown in terms of antecedents in sports management and organisation.

“All athIetics stakeholders are hereby notified that on no account should any athIete, NAATO officials participate in the proposed athIetics competition organised by NEDC and scheduled to commence today, October 22, 2024 at the Pantami Stadium.

“It’s cogent to note that athIetics World-wide have rules of engagement which all stakeholders must obey, therefore, not meeting these rules by the organisers, the Gombe State Athletics Association has decided to exit from the competition in accordance to the rules of the athIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and by extension the World athIetics,” Gara Gombe said.

He said part of the reasons Gombe athIetics Association was boycotting the competition were as follows:

“The competition is below athIetics standards both in procurement of running facilities and medical and insurance requirements.

“Organisers of the competition are largely unknown to leaders of Gombe State Athletics Association as Facilities for the competition are either sub-standard or non-existent.

“All NAATO officials were not formally/officially invited for the competition.”

Gara Gombe stressed that Gombe AthIetics Association (GAA) leadership cannot tolerate under his watch for athletes and athletics to be ridiculed or shamed by ignorant state machineries.