Yar’Adua Promises Quality Sports Facilities

In order to boost the performances of Nigerian sportsmen and women in international competitions, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has promised that the federal government will continue to provide adequate and high quality sporting facilities in the country.

He made this promise while speaking at the opening session of the 13th ordinary General Assembly of the Association of National Olympics Committees of Africa (ANOCA) in Abuja yesterday.

The President who was represented at the occasion by the vice president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, said that Nigeria will take part in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) coming up in Singapore next year and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The President while describing sports as a veritable tool for national and international cohesion said that if harnessed well, it has the potentials to make peace and unity reign in the world.

Sports provide opportunities for the youth to shun violence and other vices like drug abuse, armed robbery, kidnapping etc, he declared.

Praising the efforts of the International Olympic Committees (IOC) for sustaining the games over the years, the president said that the game has impacted greatly on other spheres of human life like education, medicine, environment, science and technology.According to him, the decision to host the permanent secretariat of ANOCA in Nigeria was informed by the desire to enhance rapid sports development in Nigeria at all levels.

Speaking at the occasion, the president of ANOCA, General Lassana Palento thanked the Nigerian government for accepting to host the general assembly and the secretariat of the body.

Also the IOC president, Jacque Rogge, praised Nigeria for her achievements in sporting events as he recalled the successful hosting of the 8th All African Games in 2003 by Nigeria.

While noting the achievement of African athletes at the 2008 Beijang Olympic Games, he expressed optimism that African athletes will continue to do well in the Olympic games.