By Correspondent in Minna
Niger State Contingents to the National Youth Sports Festival taking place in Edo state, ‘Edo 2020’ have undergone compulsory COVID-19 test as part of the criteria towards participating in the various sporting event.
The compulsory COVID-19 test was conducted at the Minna General Hospital, yesterday (Thursday) as Coaches for the different sports were seen coordinating their players for successful test.
Our correspondent who was on ground to monitor the exercise, however, reports that some of the players and officials were skeptical about the tests considering the procedures which they felt was ‘scaring’ touching some sensitive part of the respiratory track.
As at the time of this report, over 120 athletes and officials have so far succesfully undergone the test and the result is being awaited, preparatory to their departure for Benin, the Edo state capital.
Recall that the NSF earlier billed for last year suffered several several postponements due to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus. With the event coming up next week, the organizers had warned that all atheletes must go through tests before being allowed into the Games village.
Besides the athletes, officials from the Ministry of Sports, journalists and other stakeholders were also attended to during the covid-19 test in order not to be disallowed into the game at least 74 hours before the commencement of the festival.
Meanwhile, Niger State is to participate in 14 individual and team events.