The first batch of Team Nigeria contingent to the Tokyo Olympics are expected to depart the country on July 6, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare announced on Monday in Abuja.
The minister, who disclosed this while addressing the plenary meeting of the National Sports Federations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic games, explained that Team Nigeria’s 61-strong contingent are to depart for the Olympics in two batches.
“For the Olympic Games, the first batch of the athletes is scheduled to depart for Kisarazu on July 6, 2021, while the second batch departs on July 13, 2021.
“The Paralympic Teams will depart in one batch on 8th August, 2021,” he said.
Dare gave a breakdown of the sports Nigeria would feature, with a charge to the athletes and officials to make the country proud.
“As at today, Nigeria has qualified 61 athletes across nine sports for the Olympics and 22 athletes in four sports for the Paralympic Games, which are: Athletics-22, Badminton-3, Basketball-24, Canoe sprint-1, Gymnastic-1, Rowing-1, Taekwondo-1, TableTennis-1, Wrestling-1, to bring the total to 61.
“For Paralympic Games we have; Para Athletics-5, Para Powerlifting-10, power rowing-1, Para Table Tennis-6, summing up to 22.” he said.
The minister noted that the recent qualification of the Women’s 4x100m, Women’s 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relays was a significant achievement for the country.
He disclosed that the ministry, in collaboration with the Nigerian Olympic Committee, has scheduled a 14-day Pre-Games Training Camp (PGTC) for the athletes in Kisarazu , Japan.
The minister explained that the arrangement would further expose the athletes to further preparations, ahead of their events, as well as give them ample time to adjust to the Japanese time zone.
Dare said in order to ensure a hitch-free participation in Tokyo, the ministry had engaged four travel agencies to handle flight tickets for the contingents.
The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will hold from July 23 to Aug.8.
