FG to support Team Nigeria to Winter Olympics
The Federal Government has pledged to give its supports to the four athletes representing the country at the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games.
The Olympic Games will hold from 9 to 25 February 2018 in the host city PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, South Korea.
Nigerian Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoha will participate in Bobsleigh while Simidele Adeagbo will compete in Skeleton.
President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr Habu Gumel gave the assurance while speaking with journalists at an event to honour Nigerian athletes to the Games by the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja.
“We are in touch with them [athletes] and we are going to do everything possible to The Federal Government has been urged to review the appropriation for youths and sports development in the 2018 proposals.
Making the call yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Samson Itodo said what was budgeted cannot make meaningful impacts on the youths and sports development in the country.
He was speaking at the end of a meeting of the YIAGA-Centre for Legislative Engagement (YIAGA-CLE).
According to him the YIAGACLE undertook an analysis of the 2018 Appropriation bill from a youth perspective to ascertain support them to do well at the Olympics,” he said.
While expressing delights with the participation of Nigeria at the Winter Olympics for the first time, he said this feat will encourage Nigerian athletes to become interested in winter games.
“Though, we don’t have the weather, we have to participate in the games because we are a big country.
“We are looking at other areas we are participating in the Winter Olympics, Gumel added.
He disclosed that two coaches, a Chief of Mission and four others will accompany the team to the Olympics.
Also speaking, Chief of Mission of Team Nigeria, Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed optimism that the girls will make Nigeria proud at the Games.
On his part, the Director of Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja, Han Sungrae said the country was proud of the Nigerian girls, hence the decision to celebrate them.