18th NSF: South-West Zone Picks Ibadan As Hosts of Zonal Elimination Competition

Steve Olarinoye, the Zonal Co-ordinator of the South-West Zone One of the National Sports Commission (NSC), disclosed this on Sunday in an interview. 
 
``The decisions were part of the resolutions reached at the meeting between me as the Zonal Co-ordinator and the South-West Zone One General Manager as well as the Directors of Sports in states in the zone.
 
``The meeting was held on July 19 at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, where various issues pertaining to the zonal elimination competition for team sports towards the 18th NSF tagged `Eko 2012’ were discussed.
 
 ``Ibadan in Oyo state was confirmed as the host state for the competition, with the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium and Lekan Salami Stadium as the venues,’’ he said.
 
The NSF is scheduled for Nov. 27 to Dec. 9 with Lagos State as hosts.
 
By virtue of this, Lagos State has the right to field athletes in all events featuring at the festival.
 
Olarinoye however said Lagos State would still be taking part in the elimination series in spite of having qualified for the team events by virtue of its host status.
 
``The meeting unanimously agreed to allow Lagos state take part in the elimination series.
 
``But their participation is going to be on a non-scoring basis since they were not expected to participate as hosts of the festival,’’ he said.
 
The zonal co-ordinator also disclosed that the South-West sports officials at the meeting commended NSC’s adherence to the timeline earlier drawn for the festival.
 
``The NSC was commended for following strictly for the first time the timeline drawn for the festival’s organisation.
 
``The commendation was handed out because this is something that will help in the smooth and successful hosting of the festival,’’ he said.