Fallout Of 2nd Niger-Delta Games, Imo SWAN Demands For Improved Sports Facilities, Athletes Welfare & Accountability

 

Following the near abismal performance of Imo Contingent at the just concluded Niger Delta Games held in Benin City, Edo State, the Imo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has called for improved sports facilities in the among other features that will facilitate sports development.

In a communique delivered by SWAN, Imo State Chapter on the outcome of the event in Benin among other sporting issues in the state, the sports writers among other things called for accountability and improved welfare of athletes including early camping;

"The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State Chapter, after a careful review of the participation and performance of Team Imo at the recently concluded Niger Delta Games held in Benin City, Edo State, wishes to present the following observations and recommendations in the interest of the development of sports in the state.

Imo SWAN begins by congratulating the athletes who proudly represented the state at the Games. In spite of obvious limitations, including inadequate preparation time, poor training facilities, and limited resources, the athletes displayed admirable courage, resilience, and determination throughout the competition.

Their efforts yielded a total of 5 gold, 8 silver, and 18 bronze medals, a performance that reflects their dedication and commitment to bringing honour to Imo State under challenging circumstances.

The association also acknowledges and appreciates the parents and guardians of these athletes for supporting and allowing their wards to represent the state on such an important regional platform.

Special commendation goes to those athletes who secured podium finishes across various events. Their achievements, considering the circumstances under which they prepared, deserve recognition and encouragement.

 *Concern Over Overall Outcome* 

While commending the athletes for their spirited efforts, Imo SWAN notes with concern that the overall outcome of the Games could have been significantly better.

Imo State finished ninth out of the nine participating states, placing last on the medal table. This represents a decline from the previous edition of the Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the state finished eighth out of nine teams and recorded more medals than were won this year.

The association strongly believes that Imo State possesses abundant sporting talents capable of achieving far more respectable results. It is also noteworthy that a number of athletes of Imo origin competed for other states during the Games.

A major factor responsible for the underwhelming performance of the state at the 2nd Niger Delta Games and other recent competitions is the poor condition of sports infrastructure across Imo State.

The state boasts three major stadium facilities, with the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri serving as the flagship complex. Unfortunately, the stadium which successfully hosted the National Sports Festival in 1998, nearly three decades ago, has deteriorated significantly and is now a shadow of its former self.

Presently, only the main bowl witnesses some level of activity, largely limited to football matches. The facility, originally designed to accommodate multiple sporting disciplines including athletics, cannot host track and field events due to the absence of standard tartan tracks.

As a result, athletes are forced to train on hard concrete surfaces, placing them at a severe disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other states who train under standard conditions.

The stadium also lacks functional facilities for other athletics disciplines such as high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin, and discus.

In addition, the stadium scoreboard has remained non-functional for nearly a decade and now requires total replacement rather than repairs. Parts of the roof of the main bowl are also deteriorating, with sections reportedly blown off, posing potential structural risks if urgent intervention is not undertaken.

The Grasshoppers International Handball Stadium, once a symbol of sporting excellence where the famous Grasshoppers International Handball Club recorded numerous triumphs, is currently in a deplorable condition, with most of its facilities no longer functioning.

Similarly, the basketball courts within the stadium complex are in poor condition despite being used regularly by young and promising talents. While some individuals have attempted minor improvements while hosting competitions, the courts remain far below national standards and require comprehensive rehabilitation.

Although the tennis courts received some level of renovation a few years ago through private efforts, they are gradually sliding back into disrepair and still fall short of the standards required even for national tournaments.

Imo SWAN also finds it remarkable that Imo State was able to win a medal in swimming at the 2nd Niger Delta Games despite not having a functional standard swimming facility in the state.

Funds were reportedly released in the past for the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool within the Dan Anyiam Stadium complex. However, the project remains incomplete under circumstances that remain controversial. What currently exists is a large abandoned excavation site, which has become both an embarrassment and a potential safety hazard.

Due to the deplorable state of sporting facilities in the state, Team Imo athletes have been compelled to camp in another state where the necessary facilities are available in order to train under more suitable conditions.

This development clearly highlights the extent of infrastructural decay within the sports sector in Imo State. It is therefore not surprising that the state has not made any serious attempt to bid for the hosting of major national sporting events since the 1998 National Sports Festival.

The association further observes with deep concern that grassroots sports development in the state has virtually collapsed.

Apart from occasional competitions sponsored by private individuals, the state government rarely organizes structured grassroots sporting programmes. School sports competitions, which once served as the most reliable platform for discovering young talents, have almost disappeared.

Outside of a secondary school and university football competition organized some time ago by the government through the Ministries of Sports and Youth Development and Talent Hunt, there has been no sustained grassroots sports programme in the state.

The association stresses that school sports remain the most effective pipeline for talent discovery—from primary schools through secondary schools to tertiary institutions.

Likewise, community games, inter–local government competitions, and zonal sporting festivals that once helped identify promising athletes have disappeared.

This situation has forced the state on several occasions to recruit athletes from other states ahead of competitions, rather than developing its own talents.

Shortage of Technical Personnel

The body also notes the shortage of qualified technical personnel across several sporting disciplines in the state.

It has been decades since new coaches were recruited in many sports federations. As a result, aging coaches who should have retired long ago remain in service, often without exposure to modern coaching techniques.

The association therefore recommends that sports federations in the state be properly constituted and strengthened, with qualified coaches and technical personnel recruited across different sports. 

The association also observes that several aging athletes continue to represent the state in competitions.

While acknowledging their contributions and loyalty over the years, Imo SWAN recommends that such athletes be properly appreciated and compensated for their service to the state and gradually assisted to transition out of active competition.

Some of these experienced athletes can be retrained and integrated into the system as coaches, instructors, or technical officials. 

Imo SWAN further calls for the professionalization of sports administration in the state.

Committees set up for the organization of sporting activities are often populated by individuals who lack the necessary experience in sports management.

The association therefore urges the authorities to involve knowledgeable stakeholders, including experienced sports administrators, technocrats, and sports journalists who possess institutional knowledge of the sector.

Finally, Imo SWAN calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of funds allocated for sports development in the state.

Clear oversight mechanisms must be established to ensure that funds meant for infrastructure development, athlete preparation, and participation in competitions are judiciously utilized.

Such accountability is vital if Imo State is to restore its sporting reputation and avoid the embarrassment of poor performances in future competitions.

 *Conclusion* 

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter, reiterates its commitment to the growth and development of sports in the state. The association remains willing to collaborate with the government and all relevant stakeholders to rebuild, reposition, and return Imo State to its rightful place as a leading sporting state in Nigeria.

 Communiqué Drafting Committee Members:* 

Benny Naza

Afam Echi

Divine Amadi

 E-Signed

Cosmos Chukwuemeka

(Chairman, SWAN Imo State Chapter)

Tunde Liadi

(Secretary, SWAN Imo State Chapter)