The decision by Rivers State not to participate in the ongoing 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, is not going down well with the state athletes.

Athletes and officials from 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are in Asaba battling for medals in the 8th National Youth Games, which was declared open by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday. But Rivers State is missing, as the state did not even bother to register for the Games, which is aimed at discovering young talents to replace ageing athletes.

The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that soon after some of the athletes got wind of Rivers State government’s unwillingness to participate in the 2024 National Youth Games, and in their determination to lay a solid foundation for their young career, allegedly approached some neighbouring states, including Bayelsa and Edo to be allowed to represent them at the Games. But it didn’t work out.

Some athletes from Rivers State were at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, on Thursday to witness the opening ceremony of the Games. Some of them broke down in tears seeing their colleagues harvesting medals at the indoor sports hall.

One of the athletes, who spoke with The Guardian on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, described the decision by Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to attend the Games as sad.

“This is really sad because not attending the National Youth Games in Asaba is a big setback to some of us. I can’t really understand the reason why a state as rich as Rivers State can’t send a delegation to attend a National Youth Games holding in Asaba. Now, our colleagues from all other states of the federation are here in Asaba competing for medals and we are just here as spectators. Some of us actually approached a few states to be enlisted for this Games, but it didn’t work out due to law guiding registration of athletes. I am heartbroken.”

Another athlete from Rivers State, who also spoke with The Guardian, while watching the cycling event, yesterday morning in Asaba said: “I don’t even know if Governor Fubara was aware of what is happening. Could it be that those in charge of sports in the state did not inform him about the 2024 National Youth Games? This is bad.”

Efforts to speak with officials of Rivers State Sports Ministry on why the state in not attending the Games were unsuccessful on Friday.

While athletes from Rivers State are lamenting over none participation in the 2024 NYG, their counterparts in Imo State are rejoicing.

Respite came to the ‘stranded’ Imo State contingent to the National Youth Games, as pressure from Sports Journalists allegedly compelled the State government to swiftly release the approved fund for the athletes and officials to attend the biennial sports fiesta.

The Guardian recalls that Imo contingents were allegedly stranded at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, as at Tuesday, due to what some officials described as paucity of fund, resulting to non-release of the approved fund for the event.

Sensing that such could lead to great embarrassment, members of Imo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) decided to mount pressure and draw the attention of the state government as well as critical stakeholders, which forced the Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma to release the needed funds for the contingent to leave for Asaba on Wednesday afternoon.