Rainfall on Friday, May 23, disrupted outdoor sporting activities at the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun State.
StarReporters reports that the downpour, which began at 9:45 a.m., brought outdoor events to a standstill.
The situation forced athletes to seek shelter under covered sections of the MKO Abiola Sports Arena and other venues.
Some athletes advised the National Sports Commission (NSC) to consider scheduling future festivals outside the rainy season.
Ogunsakin Akinwumi, a tennis player from Team Ekiti, described the timing of the festival as unfortunate.
“May is the time that we have heavy rain in the South West. I understand that facilities were not ready at the end of the year, but we can do better in subsequent festivals. If we plan properly, these situations can be avoided,” he said.
Emmanuel Echioma, a handball player from Enugu, also noted the impact of the rain on performance.
“If the games are indoor, there would be no problem. Again, the timing of the festival is also a thing of concern,” he said.
The NSF is a biennial multi-sport event organised by the Federal Government. It brings athletes from all 36 states and the FCT together to compete in various sports, fostering unity, sportsmanship, and excellence across Nigeria.
The festival, which began on May 1, is scheduled to conclude on May 30.
(NAN)