The 2024 National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba has been marred by allegations of age cheating, raising serious concerns about the credibility and fairness of the event.
Reports have surfaced that some adult athletes are competing against much younger participants, undermining the core principle of youth competition.
This has led to growing frustration among athletes, coaches, and spectators, who feel the integrity of the games is being compromised.
The sight of grown men competing against boys has left many questioning the effectiveness of the age verification process used by the organizers.
Critics argue that allowing older athletes to compete not only diminishes the spirit of the event but also unfairly disadvantages younger participants who are abiding by the rules.
One example of this stark contrast is the participation of 14-year-old athletes from Delta State, who embody the true essence of the National Youth Games.
Their presence highlights the unfairness of pitting genuine youth athletes against competitors who are clearly older, bringing the issue of proper age enforcement to the forefront.
The controversy has prompted calls for stricter measures to prevent age falsification and ensure that future editions of the games remain a fair and level playing field for all participants.
