AAG: Nigeria Will Feature In 21 Sports -Popoola

Super Falcons

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) yesterday  said that the nation would participate in 21 sports at the forthcoming All Africa Games (AAG) coming up in Congo Brazzaville from September  4 to September  19.
The sports are athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics and handball.
Others are judo, karate, table tennis, para athletics, powerlifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
The Secretary-General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, however, told the newsmen in Lagos that the number of sports may be reduced due to paucity of funds.
“21 sports have made the requirements to feature at the Games. The numbers might undergo a reduction before the eventual departure to Congo Brazzaville.
“The National Sports Commission (NSC) have told us that they don’t have enough funds to carry all athletes.
“We are hoping that a way is found so that we can be able to take all the athletes,’’ he said.
The scribe said that, if by the end of July the financial situation has not improved, the number of sports for the games would be reduced to 15 or 17.
“It is not our intention to raise hopes and eventually dash it. If NOC has 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 the situation we are finding ourselves at this tail end of the tiding up for the Games.
“We are hoping that things would turn around for good and all the contingent would go,’’ he said.
The 2011 AAG in Maputo, Nigeria featured in 20 sports and clinched 102 medals comprised of 31 gold, 29 silver and 42 bronze.