Sports Festival: Ogun State athletes protest over unpaid allowances, disupt events

THE 22nd National Sports Festival was thrown into chaos today when athletes of the host state Ogun staged a protest.

The athletes were understood to be demanding the payment of the allowances and bonuses promised to them before the festival began last week.

Dozens of the aggrieved Ogun State athletes blocked the entrance and exit of the games village from early in the morning, disrupting the movement of other participants, thereby affecting the day’s schedule of events.

According to some of the athletes, they were not paid the agreed sums, leaving them with no choice but to protest, especially with just two days left to the end of the festival.

Instead of the N210,000 promised to them as camp allowance for the Gateway Games, the athletes said they were paid only N140,000 this morning.

The athletes insisted that they would not budge until their full allowances were paid, because they felt they would not get any money after the sports festival.

However, the athletes relented some minutes after noon, and stranded participants were able to compete hours behind schedule.

It is unclear if the shortfall of N70,000 had been paid to the athletes or if they were given guarantees by Ogun State officials.