…thanks FG for funding team
Barrister Solomon Dalung, the Youth and Sports Minister has charged Team Nigeria taking part in the III Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires to compete clean and fair as the games opened at the weekend.
The Point gathered that Dalung gave the charge in Argentina while addressing the young athletes.
“I charge you to be worthy ambassadors of our great country Nigeria both on the field of play and outside the sporting arena. You should desist from acts that can dent the image of our great country. As you all know, the menace of drugs is threatening sports globally and has led to embarrassing situations as well as sanctions of athletes of great sporting nations. Therefore, I urge you to keep the integrity of our nation intact by competing clean and fair in this Youth Olympic Games,” he began.
Dalung also thanked the Federal government for making funds available to the ministry for preparation and participation at the games.
“Let me assure you that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to our successful participation in the 3rd Youth Olympic Games by ensuring that adequate funds were provided for this competition without delay.
“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate all these worthy athletes for their qualification for the games.”
On the occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr Olusade Adesola welcomed the athletes to Buenos Aires while acknowledging the long distance to the games.
“We are here to encourage you to do your best and win medals for our country. You are all here by merit and not by selection. You’re within the age limit and the best we have therefore we expect the best from you,“ Adesola stated.
Nigeria will be taking part in athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, golf, table tennis and wrestling at the Games which will run from October 6th to 18th 2018.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has nominated Senegal as the host country for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2022. It will be the first Olympic event in history to take place on the African continent.
One of the highlights of the YOG will be the leading rugby sevens teams competing against each other. Rugby sevens made its debut at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and was one of 32 sports at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
“The 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase rugby sevens in Africa. Rugby is the fastest growing sport on the continent. In 2002, only six African nations played rugby. Now there are 38! Out of 105 countries playing rugby competitively in the world, one third are African countries,” stated Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, founder and CEO of APO Group, and the main official sponsor of the World Rugby African Association, Rugby Africa.
Senegal’s application was based on three sites: the capital, Dakar; the new city of Diamniadio; and the seaside resort of Saly. Senegal’s project is tied to the country’s general development strategy, notably the national government’s “Emerging Senegal’’ plan, which envisions major economic and infrastructure improvements.
The 2022 Summer Youth Olympic Games will be the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games and the seventh edition of the Youth Olympic
Games.
