Minister of Youth and Sports Development,Sunday Dare has hinted that the National Sports Festival could hold October with both contact and non-contact sports.

Dare who attended the signing of sponsorship agreement between the Nigeria Basketball Federation and Total Nigeria Limited spoke with journalist on plans to hold the Sports Festival.

The National Sports Festival which was earlier scheduled to hold March in Edo State was postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Dare said all hands are on deck to ensure it still hold this year as the ministry will be guided by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

Read Also: Edo 2020 National Sports Festival Still Feasible- Sunday Dare

He also revealed that plans are already in place to ensure athletes resume camping.

Athletes will camp in Akure, Abuja and Pankshin.

“It is our desire to have the National Sports Festival which I call the Nigeria Olympic Games to take place this year, we have shown commitment.

“We already set up a team and through their reports, they already suggested October, based on the COVID-19 prevention rate, and other indices like COVID-19 protocols, we have been working with the PTF, NCDC, the health ministry.

“The ministry will be properly guided and when the numbers are right, we are going to have that festival and it is going to have both contact and non-contact sports.

“The world already started both contact and non-contact sports, there are protocols in place, if we repeat the same thing here, we are going to get our lives back also.”

“In two weeks time we are definitely hoping  to open camps in Akure, Abuja and Pankshin in Plateau State.

“This will in no means  help our athletes get over the rustiness of the COVID-19 lockdown.

” There will be there for two weeks and the ministry is going to be responsible for payment of everything .