Visa problem stops Nigerian scrabble team from Poland championship

THE Polish Embassy in Nigeria yesterday denied the Nigerian contingent to the World Scrabble Championship in Warsaw entry visas to Poland for the championship, which starts today in the Polish capital city.Secretary of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), James Eakyns, told The Guardian yesterday that the embassy declined to grant the contingent entry visas despite the submission of all the documents it required, including a Norte Verbal from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and a Letter of Introduction from the National Sports Commission (NSC) dated 10/10/2011. The last day the contingent could depart for the event, which holds from yesterday to weekend.According to Eakyns, the contingent was refused entry visas even though visa applications were submitted since September 19, and the federation ensured that it met the stipulated 22 days dateline for visa application from the embassy.'This act is viewed as a deliberate attempt at preventing Nigeria from participating in the World Scrabble Championship, which has never happened before. The denial at the last minute means that the Nigerian contingent cannot travel for the championship, which it duly registered for, since today is the last arrival and documentation date for the championship,' he said.
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