NOC unveils programmes for Commonwealth Games, others

• Quadri, Brume, others get scholarship for training
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) yesterday revealed its programme for the year and other activities including the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

At a meeting in Lagos, the NOC’s President, Habu Gumel, said the occasion was to keep the public posted on various plans, which the committee is directly involved.

“You will agree with me that aside from Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest multi-sporting spectacles on earth today. It unites not only the traditional Commonwealth nations, but other friendly nations of the world.

“For us in the sporting family, it is a thing of joy that Nigeria has always performed creditably in the Commonwealth Games since our athletes first featured in Auckland, New Zealand in 1950, so that by the last edition in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014, we could boast a record of 250 Commonwealth medals of various colours,” he said.

Speaking on the issuance of visa to interested travelers to the Games in Australia, Gumel said: “It is important to let the public know that the Australia High Commission does not issue visas in Nigeria. The NOC cannot influence the issuance of visas to intending visitors. “All visa issues are handled in Pretoria, South Africa, via online applications.”