The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, was full of praise for the athletes at the end of National open trials in Lagos over their remarkable performances and as well sense of professionalism displayed all through the open trials.
The trials is an initiative of the ministry to enhance performance of the athletes and also a platform to select the best athletes that will represent the country at the Games.
As the battle for a place among the athletes at the Olympic trials continues, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has assured Nigerians of a better outing at the Olympic Games holding in July, in Tokyo Japan.
“I think that this opportunity to compete in the National trial is critical and I have said unless you come to the National Trials, you will not make Team Nigeria,” Dare said. “Our athletes both home and abroad heeded that clarion call because they love this country and they are patriotic.”
“They all came and put up their best and I thank them for that patriotism and their professionalism and I think from this National trial, we can sit back and start to pen in the next 48-72 hours the Nigerian Olympics team that will go to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”
“We have tracked and monitored these athletes over time, we also watch the world ranking and we know where they stand, I was with them in Dallas Texas. I saw them run against five other countries, some of these athletes are one of the best you have in the world and we can always hope for the best. I’m confident they would make podium performances in Tokyo,” he added.
