London 2012: ‘Team Nigeria will focus on tracks‘
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Chairman of the Advisory and Coordinating Committee for Nigeria’s participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mallam Al-hassan Yakmut, has said that emphasis will be on the team’s area of strength, which is in the track and field events.
Yakmut, who stated this yesterday in an interview in Lagos, explained that the country’s medal prospects at the Olympics could be realised through track and field, female wrestling and taekwondo.“In terms of our projection, our areas of strength are in athletics events, women’s 4x100m, 4x400m, women’s wrestling and men’s taekwondo,” he said.
The chairman allayed fears on the late release of funds which many feared could affect the effective preparation of Team Nigeria for the London Olympics.
“The National Sports Commission (NSC), being very conversant with our budgeting system as a country, was able to source for funds alternatively pending the release of the budget.
Yakmut added that some contingency arrangements had to be put in place to address critical areas which, he said, necessitated the departure of the track and field team to the U.S. for a camping programme.
“Preparation for pre-qualification and continuous packaging of athletes who must do their training outside the country is ongoing, for instance athletes have been training in Atlanta since March 6,” the chairman said.
Yakmut told NAN that so far, six federations out of the eight expected to represent the country at the Olympics, had completed their qualification championships.
They are athletics, canoeing, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting and taekwondo.
A total of 46 athletes, compose 24 men and 22 women have qualified for the Olympics, while for the Paralympics Games, 34 athletes made up of 21 males and 13 females have so far qualified. (NAN)
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London 2012: ‘Team Nigeria will focus on tracks‘
Category: Sports Written by - Hits: 397
Chairman of the Advisory and Coordinating Committee for Nigeria’s participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mallam Al-hassan Yakmut, has said that emphasis will be on the team’s area of strength, which is in the track and field events.
Yakmut, who stated this yesterday in an interview in Lagos, explained that the country’s medal prospects at the Olympics could be realised through track and field, female wrestling and taekwondo.“In terms of our projection, our areas of strength are in athletics events, women’s 4x100m, 4x400m, women’s wrestling and men’s taekwondo,” he said.
The chairman allayed fears on the late release of funds which many feared could affect the effective preparation of Team Nigeria for the London Olympics.
“The National Sports Commission (NSC), being very conversant with our budgeting system as a country, was able to source for funds alternatively pending the release of the budget.
Yakmut added that some contingency arrangements had to be put in place to address critical areas which, he said, necessitated the departure of the track and field team to the U.S. for a camping programme.
“Preparation for pre-qualification and continuous packaging of athletes who must do their training outside the country is ongoing, for instance athletes have been training in Atlanta since March 6,” the chairman said.
Yakmut told NAN that so far, six federations out of the eight expected to represent the country at the Olympics, had completed their qualification championships.
They are athletics, canoeing, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting and taekwondo.
A total of 46 athletes, compose 24 men and 22 women have qualified for the Olympics, while for the Paralympics Games, 34 athletes made up of 21 males and 13 females have so far qualified. (NAN)