Give National Sports Festival necessary publicity it deserves

The Ogun State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to give the forthcoming National Sports Festival the huge publicity it deserves.

According to the association, the activities and preparations for the National Sports Festival are underreported, which has led to a communication gap between the media and the general public.

They asserted that the sports festival deserves significant publicity for its benefits to manifest effectively, stressing that Ogun State should not deviate from the norm.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by SWAN Chairman Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji, Secretary Segun Folarin, and members of the communiqué drafting committee — Daud Olatunji, Yetunde Fatungase, and Babajide Adewunmi, and issued at the end of its congress held on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

According to the communiqué, the MKO Stadium lacked a media center for the smooth running and coverage of sports events. The communiqué pointed out that if built, it would be beneficial to journalists during the games and continue to benefit them for years after the event.

SWAN, while commending Governor Abiodun for providing world-class facilities for the National Sports Festival across the state, especially the swimming pool, stressed the need for the governor to rehabilitate the dressing rooms and give a facelift to the medical bay.

They noted that this, among other things, is in line with global standards and will further attract national and international events to the stadium.

Speaking about the abandoned multi-million-dollar FIFA Goal project located on the grounds of MKO Stadium, the association urged the state governor to provide land for the project’s commencement, stating that the state government would not be financially impacted as FIFA would provide all funding.

Part of the communiqué reads, “The Congress also commends the government for the upgrade of the MKO International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

“The SWAN congress, however, appealed to the state government to look into the stadium’s dressing rooms for rehabilitation and give a facelift to the medical bay in line with what is obtainable globally and to further attract national and international events to the stadium.

“The congress stressed the need for a media gallery to be situated within the stadium for the smooth running and coverage of sports events, even after the NSF.

“The congress reminds the state government of the abandoned multi-million-dollar FIFA Goal project situated within the MKO stadium premises. This has no financial implication to the state government as the project will be fully funded by FIFA. This project has been sited in other states; hence, we appeal to the state government to allocate land for the commencement of the project.

“The congress is concerned that the state government did not deem it fit to construct a media center at the MKO stadium. Such a media center will not only be beneficial to journalists during the games but will outlive the games for years to come. It must be reiterated that this is a media event that deserves huge publicity for its benefits to manifest effectively. Ogun State should not deviate from the norm.

“The congress urges the Ogun State government to refrain from concessioning the MKO Abiola International Stadium after the festival. We urge the government to make the facility open for use by the general public for talent discovery and promotion of sports.

The sports writers, however, assured all visiting journalists of a warm, friendly, and amiable environment for the successful coverage of the games.

Give National Sports Festival necessary publicity it deserves – SWAN to Gov Abiodun