Rio Olympics: Team Nigeria to depart August 1
Tue Jul 26, 2016 08:21:am Sports
3.2K By Buchi Obichie
Team Nigeria athletes to the 2016 Rio Olympics are to depart for Brazil on August 1.
This was disclosed by Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who stated yesterday, that all the athletes on the delegation will receive their air tickets by Wednesday.
This comes after the embarrassment caused by Nigerian athletes begging for funds on Social Media to buy flight tickets.
An e-mail had emanated from the Sports Ministry, urging participating athletes to fund their way to Rio.
While reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerian athletes are well taken care of ahead of the Games, Dalung distanced himself from the mail, describing it as mischievous.
The Minister had summoned the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) president, Solomon Ogba and staff of the Federation of Elite Athletes Depar-tment FEAD to establish the author of the email purportedly sent to athletes on behalf of the Ministry.
He said: "The author of that email lacks the authority to write on behalf of the Ministry or even the Federal Government of Nigeria. At no time did we ask our athletes to seek funds to travel, knowing too well that athletes are very fragile people to be managed.
"The said letter which generated a lot of negative reactions is not the position of the ministry. We have a responsibility to transport our athletes to and from anywhere they are because they are on national assignment. Whosoever published that email and his motive will definitely be investigated."
This was disclosed by Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who stated yesterday, that all the athletes on the delegation will receive their air tickets by Wednesday.
This comes after the embarrassment caused by Nigerian athletes begging for funds on Social Media to buy flight tickets.
An e-mail had emanated from the Sports Ministry, urging participating athletes to fund their way to Rio.
While reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerian athletes are well taken care of ahead of the Games, Dalung distanced himself from the mail, describing it as mischievous.
The Minister had summoned the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) president, Solomon Ogba and staff of the Federation of Elite Athletes Depar-tment FEAD to establish the author of the email purportedly sent to athletes on behalf of the Ministry.
He said: "The author of that email lacks the authority to write on behalf of the Ministry or even the Federal Government of Nigeria. At no time did we ask our athletes to seek funds to travel, knowing too well that athletes are very fragile people to be managed.
"The said letter which generated a lot of negative reactions is not the position of the ministry. We have a responsibility to transport our athletes to and from anywhere they are because they are on national assignment. Whosoever published that email and his motive will definitely be investigated."
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