Minister of youths and sports, Mr. Sunday Dare
By Editor
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has approved five sporting federations to commence the camping of their athletes and officials in preparation ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In a statement by the media office of the minister of youths and sports development, the camping exercise is poised to bring back the athletes to their individual sports having been on recess for so long due to the outbreak COVID-19 pandemic early this year.
According to the statement, “This local camping which is coming at the resumption of sporting activities in Nigeria is geared towards early preparations of Athletes who have qualified for the Games.”
It could be recalled that the Ministry in conjunction with the Delta State Government organized the COVID-19 OKOWA Athletics Resumption Meet in Asaba on November 6, 2020 to test the application of the COVID-19 Sports Code and Resumption Protocol in a competition’s environment, which was a resounding success paving way for the reopening of sporting activities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile; Taekwondo athletes are expected to commence camping in Abuja, as well as Rowing / Para-Rowing and Canoeing / Para-Canoeing, while Para-Powerlifting will camp in Lagos.
However, Corereporters report that other sports federations where athletes have qualified for both Games will commence camping shortly in batches.
Consequently, the Ministry’s effort to revamp the middle and long distance athletic culture in Nigeria has approved a training camp in Pankshin, Plateau State specifically for road races within this period.
“All camps are to strictly observe the COVID-19 Sports Code and Resumption Protocol already developed by the Ministry in both training and accommodation venues,” the statement read.
