Following the meeting between the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development and the Edo State Government, the following guidelines have been agreed for the National Sports Festival and are as follows:
1. MOC has decided that all athletes/officials from the 35 states and the FCT, participating in the National Sports Festival must take COVID-19 tests 72 hours before arrival for the tournament.
2. All athletes/officials are to take the COVID-19 vaccine at least 12 days before arrival for the tournament.
3. The Games Village is to open on April 2, 2021, for athletes/officials.
4. Athletes/officials are to present certificates and documentation of COVID-19 tests and vaccination before they can be admitted into the Games Villages in the state.
5. The torch of unity will arrive in Edo State on April 3, and will go around the 18 local governments in the state. It will arrive at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium main bowl on April 6, where the governor would light it up.
6. In line with COVID-19 protocol, the number of athletes and officials expected to participate in the games has been reduced from 14,000 to 8,000 participants.
7. Officials of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will arrive in Benin City four days to the commencement of the festival, to monitor compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.
8. All the non-pharmaceutical measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 will be provided by the state government at the various venues and camps.
9. Attendance at the games is strictly regulated, and the general public is advised to follow the activities across media platforms, including social platforms, as it will be streamed live.
10. The State Government and the Ministry have agreed that the tag-line for the games remain ‘Edo 2020’, despite the postponement occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
11. The Government and the Ministry have agreed that Nigeria’s contingent for the Olympics would be camped in the state for preparation for the games, to take advantage of the world-class equipment and facilities in the state.
Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu
Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC)/Deputy Governor, Edo State
