Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
The Nigeria Olympic Committee have revealed that the country would take part in 21 sports at the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
The sports are athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics and handball.
Other are judo, karate, table tennis, para athletics, powerlifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, laments that the number of sports might be reduced due to lack of funds.
Popoola said, “The National Sports Commission has told us that they don’t have enough funds to carry all athletes.
“We are hoping that we could take all the athletes to Brazzaville.”
The former national hockey team star said the NOC could be forced to reduce the number of sports the country would take part in at the Games to 15 or 17 if the NOC could not raise enough money to cover 21 sports.
The NOC chief added, “It is not our intention to raise hopes of taking all athletes to the competition – and later dash their hopes.
“If the NOC had its way, all the 21 sports will go. It would be very painful if it comes down to dropping some sports.
“It is rather unfortunate. We are hoping that things would turn around for good.”
NAN reports that Nigeria took part in 20 sports at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. The country won 31 gold, 29 silver and 42 bronze.
The sports are athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics and handball.
Other are judo, karate, table tennis, para athletics, powerlifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, laments that the number of sports might be reduced due to lack of funds.
Popoola said, “The National Sports Commission has told us that they don’t have enough funds to carry all athletes.
“We are hoping that we could take all the athletes to Brazzaville.”
The former national hockey team star said the NOC could be forced to reduce the number of sports the country would take part in at the Games to 15 or 17 if the NOC could not raise enough money to cover 21 sports.
The NOC chief added, “It is not our intention to raise hopes of taking all athletes to the competition – and later dash their hopes.
“If the NOC had its way, all the 21 sports will go. It would be very painful if it comes down to dropping some sports.
“It is rather unfortunate. We are hoping that things would turn around for good.”
NAN reports that Nigeria took part in 20 sports at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. The country won 31 gold, 29 silver and 42 bronze.