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Athletes representing hosts Ogun State at the 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday, left other athletes and officials stranded at the Games Village at Babcock University, as they protested the non-payment of their allowances with two days to the end of the Gateway Games 2024, PUNCH Online reports.
In videos and pictures circulated by officials at the games village, buses conveying athletes to different venues of events were stranded as athletes in Ogun tracksuits were seen blocking the gate.
It was said that the situation began as early as 5.30am.
Ogun athletes blocking buses at the Gateway Games 2024 event venue in protest over unpaid allowance. Photo: Abiodun Adewale
One of the athletes representing Ogun State also confirmed to PUNCH Online that they had held a meeting over the protest last night and proceeded with their plans this morning.
According to him, they were yet to be paid and do not know how much the state would pay them in terms of allowances.
Before the start of the sports festival, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, pledged a cash reward of N2.5m for every gold medallist from the state, N1.5m for silver and N1m for bronze medallists.
The state is third on the medals table with 48 gold, 38 silver and 47 bronze medals.
PUNCH Online is still awaiting the reaction of the Ogun State Commissioner of Sports, Wasiu Isiaka, as of the time of filing this story.
