The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State chapter, has blamed the poor performance of team Imo at the recently concluded 2nd Niger Delta Games held in Benin City, Edo State, on the decay and deteriorating sports infrastructure across the state.
In a Communique issued on Tuesday after their March Congress meeting held at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, jointly endorsed by the SWAN Chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka and the Secretary, Tunde Liadi, the body observed that the state boasts of three major stadium facilities, with the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri serving as the flagship complex.
SWAN described it as unfortunate that the stadium, which successfully hosted the National Sports Festival in 1998, has deteriorated significantly and is now a shadow of its former self.
According to them, only the main bowl currently witnesses some activity, largely limited to football matches, and the facility, originally designed to accommodate multiple sporting disciplines, including athletics, cannot host track and field events due to the absence of standard tartan tracks.
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They said that as a result, athletes are forced to train on hard concrete surfaces, placing them at a severe disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other states who train under standard conditions.
The stadium, according to the body, also lacks functional facilities for other athletics disciplines such as high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin, and discus.
They said: “The stadium scoreboard has remained non-functional for nearly a decade and now requires total replacement rather than repairs. Parts of the roof of the main bowl are also deteriorating, with sections reportedly blown off, posing potential structural risks if urgent intervention is not undertaken.”
Imo SWAN congratulated the athletes who proudly represented the state at the Games, adding that, in spite of obvious limitations, including inadequate preparation time, poor training facilities, and limited resources, the athletes displayed admirable courage, resilience, and determination throughout the competition.
The Sports Writer acknowledged that their efforts yielded a total of 5 gold, 8 silver, and 18 bronze medals, a performance that reflects their dedication and commitment to bringing honour to Imo State under challenging circumstances.
The association also expressed appreciation to the parents and guardians of these athletes for supporting and allowing their wards to represent the state on such an important regional platform.
SWAN said: “Those athletes who secured podium finishes across various events. Their achievements, considering the circumstances under which they prepared, deserve recognition and encouragement”
While commending the athletes for their spirited efforts, Imo SWAN notes with concern that the overall outcome of the Games could have been significantly better.
SWAN said: “Imo State finished ninth out of the nine participating states, placing last on the medal table.”
According to them, this represents a decline from the previous edition of the Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the state finished eighth out of nine teams and recorded more medals than were won this year.
The association strongly believes that Imo State possesses abundant sporting talents capable of achieving far more respectable results.
The body noted that several athletes of Imo origin competed for other states during the Games.
The picture of Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, without tatan tracks
