No doctor will participate at 5th NMA Games without certificate of medical fitness, LOC says
Fitness
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, Feb. 17, 2020 (NAN) The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 5th Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Games says no doctor will participate in the competition without submitting his or her certificate of medical fitness.
Chairman of the LOC, Abiye Tamuno-Opubo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday ahead of the arrival of athletes for the event in Rivers.
Tamuno-Opubo said the directive to athletes to produce certificate of fitness was a confirmation that doctors practise what they preach.
“The certificate of fitness becomes necessary in the event of a mini marathon or a few other games that may be strenuous.
“We asked all doctors that will participate to produce certificates of fitness. That is the order, and if you don’t submit it to certify you for the Games, you will not participate.
“And the participants are complying because a lot of the athletes have submitted theirs. So, we actually practise what we preach,” he said.
Speaking also, the Technical Adviser to the LOC, Vincent Nwachukwu, said the 5th NMA Doctors Games in Port Harcourt would be organised in collaboration with the Rivers Sports Council.
“The Rivers Sports Council is aware of the Games and the Council will give us technical support and provide referees for all the sports.
“They are going to officiate, except in football which the Rivers Referees Council will give us referees.
“This tells you that we are keeping the Games at the right standard,” Nwachukwu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 400 athletes across the country are expected to arrive on Monday, with the opening ceremony slated for Tuesday.
The NMA Doctors Games will have teams representing the association’s seven zones, with host state Rivers competing as a zone.
This makes it eight zones taking part in the Port Harcourt 2020 event.(NAN)
OAS/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)