THE Nigerian team to the Tokyo Olympics met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House in Abuja on Monday for a presidential send-off to the Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will officially open on 23 July and end on 8 August.
Vice-President Osinbajo, who represented President Buhari at the sendoff and unveiling of the kits ceremony, commended sports minister Sunday Dare for ensuring adequate preparations for Team Nigeria.
“I commend the innovative and hardworking honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare and the entire staff of the ministry for developing these stars and enabling Nigeria participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” Osinbajo said.
“I’m very happy to see the very best Nigerian athletes representing the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 58 outstanding athletes and 18 world-class coaches joining over 200 other countries of the world in the biggest and most spectacular sporting event in the world. We look forward to an exciting outing so that we can attain podium performances.”
Speaking during the ceremony, Dare said Team Nigeria athletes were ready to make the country proud.
“As you all are aware, the preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics began long before the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the organisers of both events to postpone the Games to 23 July and 24 August 2021, respectively. These athletes will be flying the colours of our great country, Nigeria, in Tokyo in the coming days,” Dare said.
“I want to use this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. President and the members of the National Assembly for the unwavering support in terms of resources and provision of an enabling environment that made it possible for these athletes to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
Dare explained that Nigeria qualified in athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, gymnastics, rowing, taekwondo, table tennis and wrestling for the Olympics.
For the Paralympic Games, Nigeria will participate in para-powerlifting, para-athletics, para-rowing and para-table tennis.
A total of 58 athletes will be representing Team Nigeria at Olympic Games while 22 athletes will fly the country’s flag at the Paralympic Games.
The minister asserted that Team Nigeria’s preparation for the Games has been high-level.
“In a very clear departure from the past, athletes of Team Nigeria have been in camp for the past two months in an intensive and extensive training programme in ensuring that our esteemed athletes are physically fit for the Games,” he offered.
“As the team departs for Japan, they will head straight to Kisarazu for another two weeks for the offshore final camping exercise before the commencement of the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
The Minister expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his moral and financial support while promising that the team will be at their best in Tokyo.
“All this would not have been possible without the support of Mr. President. I want to assure you that with the pedigree of the athletes who make up Team Nigeria and the level of preparations, Team Nigeria will not disappoint Nigerians at the Tokyo 2020 Games. All we need is the continuous support and prayers of Nigerians.
“Let me assure you Mr. President sir, that these athletes will do Nigeria proud at the Olympics by representing the country well.
“Many of them have told me personally about their determination to achieve podium success to make Nigeria proud. I have no reason to doubt their commitment. I surely wish them the best.”
Osinbajo, speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, then urged Team Nigeria to make the country proud at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with spectacular performances devoid of cheating.
