Tokyo 2020 Olympic:
Tokyo 2020 Olympic: FG says ‘Preparation
on Track’
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports
Development Mr. Sunday Dare has said that the
preparation for the Olympic Games coming up in 2020 in Tokyo Japan
starts now. This was the charge and vision of the Minister while
playing host to the President and Board Members of the Badminton
Federation. Dare assured that the Lottery Trust Fund will be open
for preparation towards Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He appreciated the
Nigerian Badminton Federation in Abuja for making Nigeria proud in
winning medals at the African Games in Morocco.
2. The Minister made this statement in his office
during a courtesy visit by the President and Board Members of the
Nigerian Badminton Federation delegation.
3. Mr. Sunday Dare said he will work with the
Badminton Federation to ensure that all athletes and their coaches
are constantly trained to prepare them for the 2020 Olympic. He
assured the Federation that the Ministry will create an Athlete
Funds Grant for athletes, stressing that athletes should be
constantly trained to enable them compete with their
counterparts in the world.
4. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the
recently concluded 5th Edition of the National Youth Games in
Ilorin, adding that he was impressed with a twelve year old boy
playing Badminton with so much passion, ‘’there is need for
Government to start catching them young, to prepare them for future
performance he admonished.’’
5. In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry, Mr. Olusade Adesola expressed satisfaction with the
Medals won by the Badminton Federation, which he said grew from
grass to grace. Mr. Adesola commended their efforts and praised
them for their bond which has kept them together without rancour
which is the secret of their success.
6. Earlier in his response, President Nigerian
Badminton Federation, Mr. Francis Orbih thanked the
Honourable Minister for the audience granted them. He intimated the
Minister of the achievements of the federation so far, and that
when they came on board the Badminton players had no competitions
but with much trainings, many have competed especially in the 4th
Edition this year, the biggest Badminton event in Nigeria which
hosted 16 countries from the first edition, and in the last edition
had twenty nine countries in attendance.
7. Speaking further, Mr. Francis said Nigeria
hosted the National Badminton Championship in Port Harcourt this
year 2019 and 4 gold medals, 4 silver and 4 bronze were won, adding
that it was amazing at the rebirth of Badminton in Nigeria, he
said.
8. He commended the Ministry for the support they got
during the 12th African Games in Morocco, where they had two gold
medals, three silver and three bronze. In order to keep the pace,
he recommended that players be sent for trainings abroad so that
they can march with their counterparts all over the world.
Patricia Okaja Nnandi
Principal Information Officer,
For: Director Press