Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has charged Nigerian athletes to the Tokyo Olympics to strictly adhere to fair play and other Olympian ideals as they compete in the games, which begins on July 2021.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Monday at the Unveiling of Team Nigeria’s Official Outfit and Send Forth Ceremony to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
“The Olympics is about fair play; it’s about honesty, teamwork and respect for others, of course, friendship, you must do your part to promote these Olympian ideals as you compete.”
Vice President Osinbajo said; “I enjoin every athlete not to use any prohibited substance or to cheat in any way,” pointing out that “Half of the joy and satisfaction of victory is that it was won fairly.”
He urged the athletes to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and to represent the country excellently.
Assuring the 58 Nigerian athletes who will be competing for medals at the Tokyo Games of the support of the government and people of Nigeria, Vice President reminded them that they would carry the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians to Japan.
“You will also carry with you the encouragement of the great exploits of Nigerian Olympians before you.
“Such legends as Chioma Ajunwa who won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics for the long jump and became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.
“The Super Eagles in 1996 who won the gold medal for football; that was the team that had the greats, Augustine Okocha, Celestine Babayaro, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West Kanu Nwankwo, Abiodun Obafemi, Emmanuel Amuneke, Emmanuel Babayaro, Garba Lawal, Joseph Dosu, Kingsley Obiekwu, Mobi Obaraku, Uche Okechukwu, Teslim Fatusi, Tijani Babangida, Victor Ikpeba, and Wilson Oruma.
“That was the year we defeated the world best footballing nations, Argentina and Brazil and we all held our heads high.
“And for anyone who thinks we are joking maybe they haven’t seen our exhibition basketball game on Saturday with the USA team especially that amazing block by Precious Achiuwa against KD {Kevin Durant} who is probably the best player in the NBA right now. So Precious you are the real MVP.
“And in the year 2000 in Sydney, again we beat the best in the world.
“We won the gold in 4 × 400-metre relay after the American team was disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs, that was the team which had clement chukwu, the late sunday Bada, Enefiok Udo-ubong, Jude Monye, and two other members of the team Fidelis Gadzama and Nduka Awazie.
“So, you stand on the shoulders of giants, and with the quality and intensity of the training you have received and your exploits during the qualification series for the Olympic Games.
“I am confident that by God’s grace you will again make history and beat the best in the world.”
While commending the Ministry of Youths and Sports for the work done in preparing the athletes as well as in providing the kits and facilities for them, Vice President Osinbajo advised the athletes, who will depart Nigeria on Tuesday to the city of Kizarazu in continuation of their pre-Games training, to make use of the period to prepare well for the games.
COVID-19 Protocols
Osinbajo said that he was assured that every member of the Team Nigeria to the Games has been vaccinated against the coronavirus but called on the athletes to continue to adhere to the protocols.
“It is necessary for you to continue to observe all COVID-19 protocols and to strictly adhere to the IOC Playbook in order to safeguard your health and those of others around you,” he urged them.
President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, Abu Gumel expressed hope that the crop of Nigerian athletes going to the Tokyo Games would win medals despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, which slowed down the training of the athletes.
Earlier, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare said Nigeria qualified for athletics, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, rowing, taekwondo, table tennis and wrestling.
Dare said that 22 athletes would also compete for medals in the Paralympics Games.
Odunayo Adekoroye, who will be competing in wrestling, said Team Nigeria would be going to the Tokyo Games as a disciplined and patriotic team and would do nothing to tarnish the image of the country.
She said the team would do its best to win multiple medals for Nigeria.
Vice President Osinbajo also unveiled the official outfit of Team Nigeria at the event.
PIAK
