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Minister reassures Tokyo 2020 Olympics bound athletes

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24 Jun 2021 9:44 AM GMT
Minister reassures Tokyo 2020 Olympics bound athletes
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 Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has reassured the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bound athletes, Elizabeth Anyanacho, Funke Oshonaike and Team Nigeria of the country’s support. Dare said the country was looking forward to celebrating their success after the Olympics, with just 29 days to the commencement of the games. A statement by […]

L-R: Funke Oshonaike, Elizabeth Anyanacho, Honorable Minister, Sunday Dare, Chika Chukwumerije

Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has reassured the Tokyo 2020 Olympics bound athletes, Elizabeth Anyanacho, Funke Oshonaike and Team Nigeria of the country’s support.

Dare said the country was looking forward to celebrating their success after the Olympics, with just 29 days to the commencement of the games.

A statement by John Akanji, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the minister, said the minister gave the assurance when he hosted Anyanacho and Oshonaike in his office in Abuja on Thursday.

“The next 29 days, we will be racing non stop, I recall when I visited Elizabeth’s camp in Maitama, Abuja, I saw her and two others who are also African champions training.

“I saw the dedication and we made commitment to support her which we did almost immediately, we got her adopted on the spot after we made a pitch for her, the adoption proceeded and paid the cash that same day,” he said.

The minister said, “Elizabeth is a young, exceptional and extremely promising lady who is almost at the zenith of her career, even if it is just at the African Continent level. She earned the ticket to the Olympics as a result of hardwork.”

Oshonaike, who is making an appearance at the Olympics for the seventh time was applauded for her dedication and commitment.

“This lady has been terrific and through a lot, any other young person would have given up in this country, she struggled through school and she’s remained committed and has continued to excel accordingly.

“We are very proud of you and look forward to a good performance at the Olympics, in an event dominated by Asians, you have proven that you are a special breed,” Dare said.

On plans to motivate the athletes, the Minister said, “we are going to have a programme once the Team Nigeria list is ready. It’s a 20 minutes documentary on TV stations profiling each of our athletes and their exploits because Nigerians don’t really know what we have.

“It’s something we also hope to put on the international media circuit, we need to put the statistics out there about each of our athletes so that the world will know that Nigeria got talents. Like the Americans also say, ‘if you got it, you flaunt it.’

“It will be interesting to flaunt an 18 year-old who has beaten the African champion and won the African Taekwondo Championships.

“I think this will inspire other athletes because this country must not wait until they attain podium performance before we celebrate and validate them.”

In her response, Oshonaike expressed appreciation to the minister for his efforts in developing sports and taking care of the welfare of athletes.

“I’m so happy to be here and to say a huge thank you to the Honourable Minister for all that you are doing for our sports.

“This is the first time we are having athletes adopted and I know you will do more, thank you so much and God bless you,” she said.

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