THE Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has assured that Nigeria would learn from its experiences in the just concluded Tokyo Olympics Games, adding that there is so much to hope for in the future as the team is still young.
The minister also added that the country did not perform too badly, highlighting the fact that the team broke the 13 year old jinx of no medal in Long jump and 25 years of no finalist in the men’s 100 meters, and secured a medal in wrestling for the very first time.
“There is much to hope for the future,” the Minister said in a release yesterday.
“In Tokyo, Most of our athletes were young and debutantes – first time Olympians. They gave their all. If only we can support them in a sustained manner, they will give us future Olympic medals and raise the flag of Nigeria at all venues of international sports competition.”
The minister added that the young athletes would gain from the soon-to-be approved Nigerian Sports Industry Policy bill, which should improve the economic prospects of sports in the country.
“We have started building a new generation of Young Nigerian athletes who will benefit immensely from the Nigerian Sports Industry Policy which will be placed before the Federal Executive Council for approval shortly,” he revealed. “This policy will unleash the economic potential of our sports sector following President Buhari’s reclassification of sports as a business, away from recreation. This will be the foundation for sustained sector growth and maximization of our human resources.”
Meanwhile, the minister believes the team were appropriately kitted games with the Ministry procuring a nine-item bag of kits for each of the athletes and officials.
“Team Nigeria was properly kitted for the games with a 9-item backpack using a local manufacturer in harmony with President Buhari’s policy on local content,” he stated, adding the ministry also stated provided financial support to each Sports Federation as required.
“The Ministry’s responsibility and that of the 38 National Sporting Federations, NSFs of kitting are well spelt out,” he noted. “The production of general wear for Team Nigeria is always the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development.
“Procurement for the Competition Wear is the responsibility of the respective federations because of the fact that each sport requires specialized outfits. Boxing, Wrestling, Athletics and each of the federations need different gears. The Ministry provides budgetary support to the federations.”
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