President Muhammadu Buhari has charged athletes and members of the Team Nigeria who are due to leave shortly for Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, to avoid things that would bring shame to Nigeria while taking part in and outside the games.
“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.”
President Buhari spoke on Tuesday when he officially unveiled the qualified athletes of Team Nigeria to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which takes place in Brazil from 5th to 21st August. Nigeria has 49 qualified male athletes and 29 female athletes, bringing the total of 78 athletes in 10 sport disciplines.
“As the Federal Government formally hands over our athletes and officials for the Rio Olympics to the Nigeria Olympic Committee today, I want to charge all athletes and team officials going to the Olympic Games to be worthy ambassadors of our great country, both on the field of play and outside the sporting arena. The eyes of the global community are on you and as such, you should desist from acts that could dent the image of our great country, Nigeria.
“You are very aware of recent doping allegations which cast aspersions not only on the individual athletes but on their home countries. Please keep Nigeria clean.”
President Buhari who congratulated the athletes for their outstanding performances, at their various qualifying championships, which have led to the qualification of a sizeable number of them who will fly the national flag at the premier global sporting occasion, assured them that the government would take adequate care of their financial and other needs.
“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 assured the athletes of the support of over 170 million sports-loving Nigerians who he said are solidly behind them as they depart to bring glory to their fatherland in Rio.
“Therefore, Go for Gold in Rio! Go Team Nigeria! Go!” [myad]
