Minister targets 10 medals in Rio, needs N2b for participation

• Buhari hands over contingent to NOC July 19

The Federal Government says it is targeting at least five medals from Team Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, which starts next month in Brazil.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, gave the hint at a press briefing at the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

He said: “At worst, we should come back home with not less than five medals but we are targeting 10 or 15.”

Dalung revealed that the ministry has applied to the Federal Government for the release of N2 billion to augment funds for the 2016 Olympics, adding that the money would augment the N500 million earlier set aside by the Federal Government for the games.

“We have applied for additional funding for Rio because the 500 million voted for it will be insufficient; we have applied based on the needs we have.

“We are asking the Federal Government to give us the additional fund based on the competitions, commitments and responsibilities bothering on our participation.

“If we get as applied, it will help and if we get less than that, we can still manage because we are aware of the situation in the country.”

Dalung explained that the official handing over of Team Nigeria’s athletes would be made by President Buhari to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on July 19, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He added that 95 athletes have already qualified for participation at the Olympics, while some others were still taking part in qualifying series.

“I do not think that we have a low standard. We have tied preparation to money. Though money is needed, but the most cardinal thing about preparation for a competition is to be able to identify people who have the passion and commitment to make Nigeria proud.

“I think those athletes so far, that have participated in those competitions and won medals in such competitions, can go anywhere in the world and compete. When I went to the camps to see our athletes, I was amazed at what they were doing,” he said.

The minister assured that the country was doing its best to assure that athletes complied with anti-doping rules.

“For now, we have nothing yet indicating the breaking of doping rules. However, we will not relent in our efforts. We will continue to monitor them to make sure they stay on line,” he stressed.