President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned the members of
the Nigerian contingent to the Rio 2016 Olympics to stay away from drugs and
other acts that could bring disrepute to the country. He also directed officials, who have no business in going to
Brazil, to work for the athletes from home, adding, however, that those who
insist on going to watch the games should be prepared to bear the cost.
Speaking before he handed over Team Nigeria to the Nigeria
Olympic Committee (NOC) at the Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, the
president said, “We are all aware of our nation’s dwindling revenue and the
current global economic challenges. It
is, therefore, imperative that funds provided for the Games are utilized judiciously.
“In this regard, any official who has no business at the
Games should stay at home to cheer the team from here and if they must travel
to the Olympics, they should do so at their own expense.”
The president, who was decorated by the Olympic body as the
NOC Grand Patron, charged all athletes and team officials going to the Olympic
Games to be worthy ambassadors of the country, both on the field of play and
outside the sporting arena, noting that the eyes of the global community would
be on them and as such, they should desist from acts that could dent Nigeria’s
image.
He said, “The menace of drug use in sports is threatening
the core foundation of sports and has led to embarrassing situations as well as
sanctions of some great sporting nations.
I, therefore, urge you to keep the integrity of our nation intact by
competing clean and fair at the Olympic Games. “Please bring as many medals back home as a result of your
efforts and endeavour. But remember it is more important to compete and acquit
your country as a fair sporting nation than to bring a pack of medals as a result
of bending the rules and denying the Games of fair competition.”
He added: “Aside the sports that we have qualified for the
Olympic Games, I have equally been informed that our athletes have qualified
athletes for the Paralympic Games, which comes up immediately after the Olympic
Games in Brazil.”
He assured that the Federal Government was fully committed
to the delegation’s successful participation in the Rio Olympic Games and will
ensure that funds budgeted for the Games were released without further delay.
Sports and Youths Development Minister, Solomon Dalung,
thanked the President for his unwavering commitment to sports development in
the country. He cited the N2.9 billion the President approved for the Ministry
on the heels of the last African Games, while assuring the president that
“members of the team are competing on merit… they have trained sufficiently and
they are still training. 86 athletes will be carrying Nigerian banners in nine
different sports.”
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