Tonye Orabere
It was expected that Ogun Games 2024: National Sports Festival will be relatively different from the previous ones in terms of officiating.
Obviously, nothing has changed , Team Rivers cycling coach Jim Obafemi has decried over poor officiating and abnormalities that characterized cycling event today.
According to him, athletes were subjected to repeat a particular race for more twice with the view to cheat and favour a particular State.
He said this while speaking to sports journalists today at the venue of the event.
Obafemi explained that a race which supposed to be 500 meters was measured 1000 meters after athletes have finished the race , officials cancelled the race because it was originally supposed to be 500 meters and some other display of technical incompetence.
” I am not happy the way and manner officials are handling this event. Athletes got tired after running a race and they subject them to repeat the race immediately.
“I believe the intention is to favour a particular State or are we saying that the officials are incompetent? because I can’t phantom the reason why officials will not know the difference between 1000 meters and 500 meters.
“Consequently, the Local Organisation Committee (LOC) should ensure these abnormalities are corrected”, Obafemi said.
