By Mayowa Okekale, Abuja on July 14, 2016

The Minister of Youth and Sport, Solomon Dalung, has urged Nigerians to support the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), with a view developing sports as a catalyst for change and development within the country.

The Minister made the appeal on Tuesday during a press conference held at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, while also introducing the 2016 Team Nigeria Olympic Gala Event which is slated to hold on Tuesday, July 19^th, at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja.

During his welcome remarks, he said: “Today’s occasion is to formally present to Nigeria our team, our level of preparation and solicit supports and prayers as we move to the Olympic 2016 Team. Nigeria is a country with a long and rich tradition of sports participation and achievements, as well as special relationship with the Olympic Movement, first participating in the Olympic Games in 1952.”

Speaking further, he emphasised that the thinking that we must train in another country before we win Olympics is a wrong mentality, saying: “What we have to do is to put adequate facilities on ground here. So many Nigerians are outside the country and struggling to come home and compete for their country. And I believe if this country is moving forward as it is moving, many Nigerians outside would not have alternative but to come back and compete.”

While speaking on the preparation of the Olympics game, he said the contingents are tested and are always being monitored in all their activities. “We have always been adopting the fire-brigade approach in our preparation and our attitude is very different this time around,” he added.

Continuing, he said: “There is no doubt that we have outstanding athletes with a great deal of strong commitment, but Nigerians must be able to provide support by jointly working with the Nigeria Olympic Committee, so as to develop customised, creative and impactful athletic support and elite-level coaching programmes for the athletes.”

He revealed that over 95 athletes are qualified for the Olympics game, saying Nigeria is participating in the Rio 2016 and the President is committed, and assured that Nigeria shall go to Rio to fly the flag of our country and come back in flying colours.

While responding to a question on how many medals and laurels the Nigerian team would bring home, the minister said: “The question is actually out of the way as it belongs to the sorcerers or miracle makers. But what I know is, Nigeria will feature prominently and come back home in flying colors. This is not the time to prophesy as we are living in a world of grace. Our athletes are training and they could be accessed. Being prophetic could be suicidal.”

The minister, while also responding to how the Budget of N500 million earmarked for Sport Ministry would be managed, he said: “Budget of 2016 is a public document and everybody knows. We are pursuing the approval actually. When it is released, that is when the question will be ripe to ask. We have even applied for additional funding as the amount budgeted is not sufficient. We asked for N2 billion, based on our needs, traveling and cost. But if we get less than that, we will manage it.”

When asked about how to handle the upsurge of Zika Virus in Brazil, South America, where the Olympic Game would hold, the Minister responded thus: “I travelled to Rio for inspection recently, and it is not as bad as we are talking about it here. The World Health Organisation, WHO, would issue a certificate of qualification to the Rio and this would make us participate.”

He advised that Nigerians must also speak good things about the athletes too.

“We must be fair to them because they have given themselves to represent their country. We have to change the narratives, which is not too good enough to encourage them. I believe they are doing their best. Some of them have spent their money and resources. With those, our nation will be great again,” Dalung added.

The minister however, promised that the athletes would be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on the 19^th and Mr. President would be decorated as the Grand Patron.

•Photo by Mayowa Okekale shows, from left; President, Nigerian Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Gumel; Minister of Youth and Sport, Solomon Dalung and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Chinyeanka Ohaa, at the News Conference.

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 14, 2016

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