Minister Charges US-Bound Athletes On Tokyo Olympics

As preparations for the  Tokyo 2020 Olympics intensify, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare on Monday visited the athletes who have been training at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja  preparatory to their departure  for the USA on Thursday to participate  in relay qualifiers.
“I have been monitoring your preparations and have met most of you personally. Whether you are home-based or foreign-based, Team Nigeria is one hence we decided to take you to the US to join others so that you can blend as a team,” the  minister sad.
He hailed the performance of Tobi Amusan who got adopted a few weeks ago and who now has the second world best time, Grace Nwokocha and Adegoke Enoch who got adopted by the Minister under the Adopt an Athlete Initiative.
He added that the ministry had put in place a detailed programme for the athletes where every trip, meet, timing, accommodation are being monitored.
“Your job is to run and give this country the best; focus on your training and the goal ahead and leave the administration to us. The world is waiting to see what you can do, you must meet their expectations,” Dare said.
Also at the weekend, Ghana, Botswana and South Africa secured their tickets to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the World Relays held in Poland in the absence of Nigeria which failed to make it to the tournament over refusal of entry visa by the Polish Embassy.
Meanwhile, the Minister yesterday in Abuja inaugurate the caretaker committees of the 30 sports federations.