Sixteen Nigerian athletes departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Thursday for Texas United States of America, where they will take part in the Tokyo Olympics relay qualifiers.
The Sixteen athletes and coaches decked in their new kits were seen off by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare .
The team had been in camp for three weeks 3 in Abuja in preparation for the the relay races, after missing out of the World Relays in Poland due to visa issue.
According to the Secretary General Of the Atheletics Federation of Nigeria Prince Niyi Beyioku, “Our athletes are highly motivated to participate in various relays in the *United States*. Contrary to a report which claimed the team was stranded, you can see that it is not true.
“You can see them in their new kits courtesy of the Minister who pulled all the buttons to make the trip a reality. The team has no financial problems. Team Nigeria Olympic preparations is on track. This is evident in what we are seeing. The advance party went ahead to finetune all arrangements. This is a mark of the committment of the Honourable Minister to ensure a hitchfree event and podium success in Tokyo”
Beyioku further affirmed “The Athletes have trained very well and are motivated to make the country proud. All the covid 19 protocols for a successful trip have been carried out. To underscore the importance of the trip, the Honourable Minister lived up to his promise to see the athletes off to motivate them to make, Nigeria proud by qualifying for the Olympics and win medals.”
