National Council for Sports to meet over Asaba 2022 Sports Festival

We’ve not postponed Games, says LOC official
The National Council for Sports will soon meet to decide whether or not the Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival will hold on its scheduled date of November 2 to 15.

The mascot and logo for the 21st edition of the festival was unveiled in Asaba in July by the Local Organising Committee (LOC), following an earlier meeting by the National Council for Sports, which fixed the festival date for November this year.

At the time of fixing the date for the National Sports Festival, the Super Eagles were still in the race for Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will begin on November 21.

The Guardian learnt yesterday that the National Council for Sports would meet soon to review the extent of preparation by the host, Delta State.

A member of the LOC hinted yesterday that two members of staff of Delta Sports Commission will meet with top officials of the Sports Ministry in Abuja today.

“The purpose of the visit by our council officials to Abuja is to meet with the Sports Ministry regarding the meeting by the National Council for Sports. We have made so much progress in our preparation for the sports festival, but it is the National Council for Sports that will decide if it can hold as scheduled.

“We have written to the Council on when we should expect them for the meeting, but they have not responded. For now, we are working on the original date of November 2 to 15. We have not postponed it as being insinuated in some quarters. It is only the Council that will advise on that,” the official stated.

He restated that Delta State Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has given the LOC the support it needs to host the best ever National Sports Festival in November.

Another source, however, revealed yesterday that Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival might be shifted by two weeks, meaning the Games may hold simultaneously with the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.