Olympians To Serve As Match Officials

The President of the Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA), Henry Amike said that the body’s personnel would participate as officials at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled for November 27 in Lagos.

Amike told newsmen in Lagos that the decision to participate as officials was in line with its drive to nurture aspiring grassroots talent.

The association’s president noted that the forthcoming edition of the 18th NSF was genuinely committed to the nurturing of budding talents from the nooks and crannies of the country.

“Well, we are not fully given a part, but just coming in as technical officials in different sports, because the National Sports Festival is basically commissioned for the grassroots athletes.

“It’s basically for the grassroots athletes and most of the athletes are those that will be taking part in the games and should be people that are just entering sports.

“It’s not for Olympics athletes so we will be coming there as officials. Well this is the one they are doing this year but the previous ones were not; the one they are starting this year is basically for the grassroots athletes.

“So, they can know who is who among the junior athletes that have excelled in the past. So I believe the one they are doing this year if they are going to go by the rules.             is basically for the youth.”