National Sports Authority explains hall closure

The National Sports Authority (NSA) has rationalised the closure of the D.G Hathiramani Sports Hall to athletes until full renovation works are completed.

This follows the refusal of the authorities to allow athletes who are competing in the upcoming national sports festival to train in the facility.

The hall was used for the first International Taekwondo Open Championship a fortnight ago after an extensive renovation work on the ground floor, upper terrace and air-conditioning systems.

The Public Affairs Director of the Authority, Madam Frederica Mensa Davies, has however explained to the Daily Graphic that despite a successful hosting of the Taekwondo Open Championship, the facility still needed further renovation, hence the shut down.

She failed to state when it would be reopened but stressed that the hall would be opened to the public when renovations were completed.

Boxing coach, Ofori Asare, some boxers and other athletes were denied entry into the hall last Wednesday.

The veteran trainer was peeved over what he termed as lack of prior information about the closure from the authorities.

According to him, this would hinder the training of athletes towards the upcoming National Sports Festival which would begin on August 31.