The National Sports Festival, NSF is the joy of every journalists, both veterans and upcoming ones but that seems to be disappearing.
When Delta was announced as the host of the 2022 games, many were happy because of the exploits of the State in the past.
However, reverse is the case as many of the journalists who came to cover the National Sports Festival, tagged Delta 2022 are unhappy with the kind of treatment meted on them especially the ones that came from outside the state.
As at press time, many of them were still stranded and don’t have a place to lay their heads unlike what was obtainable in past events where journalists were given comfortable accomodations and well fed on daily basis until the end of the event.
This is the first time that journalists are reluctant to cover events as many are always seen loittering around or just sitting at the press centre.
Another reason for their reluctancy is because there are no seats at most centres where events are taking place.
The most worrisome is that there are no shuttle buses to move around hence many of them have almost exhausted their resources and the host, Delta State is not augmenting it in any way.
One of the aggrieved journalists who spoke to our correspondent described the ongoing NSF in Delta as a glorified Inter-House Sport.
He said when their State hosted, everybody including journalists enjoyed themselves to the fullest but the opposite is the case.
His words, “Why are they maltreating people that came to cover the festival in their State like this. Many of us were happy when they gave them the hosting right but imagine the kind of maltreatment we are experiencing now.
“When we hosted, even the Deltans journalists enjoyed themselves but look at how they are treating their visitors. Even the subsidy does not get to people, this is unfair, they should do better. Delta is known for hospitality but the opposite is the case in this National Sports Festival,” he concluded.
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