Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has promised Nigerians that their national team will have a great outing at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Through the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engineer Nebeolisa Anako, the government assured the fans that the team would perform better than in previous tournaments.
Diehard fans of sports betting in Nigeria will be hoping the team’s performances will be as promised. Engr. Nebeolisa was speaking from the Sports Complex of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, which is hosting the Athletics Trials for the Olympic qualification.
He revealed that the trials were part of the local camping, which was the ministry’s initiative to improve the athlete’s performances. It will also provide the platform for the selection of the best athletes that will represent Nigeria in the Olympic games.
Some athletes have already qualified, and some have broken records. The PS was optimistic, saying that the results from the qualifiers and those from the previous National festival showed that they were better placed to perform better than in the past Olympic games. He also revealed that athletes had begun the local camping and will remain there until the Olympics.
Safety Protocols Observed
The PS also spoke about the safety of the athletes because of the current COVID-19 situation in Japan. He reiterated that there is a Nigerian Olympics Committee, just like in other countries.
Engr. Nebeolisa also said that his ministry and the government were working closely with the IOC, NOC, and the Japanese authorities through the Japanese ambassador. He disclosed that there are IOC guidelines and a book on COVID-19 that was guiding their operations to ensure the safety of athletes.
The PS also stated that the government was working hard to ensure the athletes get the COVID-19 vaccination. They were also observing the 14-day guideline to get the COVID-19 test before Tokyo is open for the Olympics. According to the PS, all athletes bound for Tokyo have already taken the vaccine’s first shot.
However, the IOC has stated that vaccination is not mandatory. But the Nigerian sports ministry has stated that it will ensure their athletes get the two shots.
Moreover, they were sure they would achieve their vaccination goals as they have the full backing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
First Nigerian Woman at the Olympics Taekwondo
Among the athletes that will be flying the Nigerian flag in Tokyo is 22-year-old Elizabeth Anyanacho. Her qualification was historic as she became the first Nigerian woman to qualify for the Olympics in taekwondo in 16 years.
The fighter has been sharpening her skills by battling with other national athletes at the training camp as she prepares. The Nigerians will also be well represented in the following sports:
- Athletics
- Canoeing
- Badminton
- Rowing
- Wrestling
- Table Tennis
- Gymnastics
- Basketball
There are up to 52 athletes spread across the sport mentioned above. Other top names representing Nigeria include Emmanuel Bamidele (400m), Blessing Okgbare (100m, 200m), and Ekerekeme Agiomor (Wrestling freestyle).
