The National Council on Sports on Wednesday said it has upgraded five sports to medal-winning events at the National Sports Festival effective from the 2020 edition in Benin, Edo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Council took the decision at its extraordinary meeting holding in Benin.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Olusade Adesola, who chaired the meeting, listed the sports as Karate, Kick-Boxing, Kung-fu, Scrabble and Squash.
Adesola, however, disclosed that the council stepped down seven other sports presented for upgrade, namely: Shooting, Power-Swimming, Golf, Cricket, Rowing, Basketball and Canoeing.
NAN reports that the council also said hosts Edo State would be granted the right to choose five traditional sports from the options that would be made available to them.
The NCS thus gave Edo State up till to the end of March to pick five traditional sports from the list presented to them.
NAN reports that Edo State were announced hosts of the next NSF during the closing ceremony of the 19th NSF in Abuja in December.