Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has charged Presidents of Sports Federations to intensify efforts and synergy in ensuring good outing for Team Nigeria at the forth comingTokyo 2020 Olympics.
The minister gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with Presidents of Sports Federations and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
He stressed the need for federations whose athletes will represent Nigeria at the Games to work closely with the ministry to ensure a hitch free outing and avoid the pitfalls of previous international events.
“It is important we meet and have a time frame. We need to be on the same page to prepare for the Olympics.
“We are going to create a feedback system beyond this meeting and we are going to have similar meetings down the road to ensure smooth and coordinated outing at the Olympics,” he said.
The minister who also took briefs from the Secretary of the Ministerial Advisory Committee, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria said the meeting was crucial to fine-tuning strategy for the Games.
Other matters discussed at the crucial meeting include list of athletes/sports that have qualified for the Games and those still engaged in various qualifiers.
The issue of budget allocation, accreditation processes for the games, sponsorship drive and camping for athletes were also discussed in a bid to ensure a good outing for Team Nigeria.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to take place from July 24 to Aug. 9 while the Paralympics will hold from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6.
Nigeria won just a bronze medal in football at the last Olympics in Rio in 2016. ( NAN)
