SWAN Boss Commends Buhari Over 2016 Olympics

The President, Sports
Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Honour Sirawoo, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to Nigeria’s participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic scheduled to begin next month in Brazil despite the country’s present economic challenges.
Sirawoo stated this in Abuja shortly after President Buhari handed over Team Nigeria to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa where the President was decorated as Grand Patron of the NOC.
The SWAN boss, who accompanied the Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung to the event joined President Buhari in calling on the athletes to shun usage of performance enhancing drugs, saying it will not only bring disgrace to the nation but also retard sports development.
He expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s directive to officials without any business at the games to stay at home emphasizing that such order will allow the athletes concentrate on doing the nation proud.
“As critical stakeholders in sports administration and development, we are compelled to join the President in calling on the athletes to shun all forms of performance enhancing drugs as this will not only tarnish the image of Nigeria, but also ruin their career.
“The release of funds by the President and the pledge to release the outstanding without further delay no doubt synchronizes my administration’s quest for a look at sports for wealth creation,” the country’s number one sports reporter stressed.
Sirawoo further said, “Remember that in my inaugural address, I stated that millions of dollars circulate in sports environment annually. The action of the federal government is therefore in line with our desire; Nigeria can earn huge revenue from sports especially as we are looking at diversifying our economy.”
The SWAN President urged Team Nigeria athletes and officials to reciprocate federal government’s gesture by ensuring that they excel at the games and make the country proud.