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The Nigerian team that participated in the Special Olympics just concluded in Los Angeles, USA will be hosted by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.  The country’s representatives did the country proud by winning up to 71 medals in total. 34 of the medals are gold medals. The president had earlier sent a congratulatory message to the team, in which he commended them for their outstanding performance. He also praised their dedication and diligence to the service of the nation in their own capacities. The president could not hold back his admiration at the exceptional performance of the team.  According to the president, the performance of the team is an indication of the can-do spirit of the Nigerian.

The president used the opportunity to state his conviction that Nigeria has all it takes to overcome all challenges it may face as a nation.  He said “all we require to make our collective national dream come true are perseverance, hard work and full dedication. With these virtues”, he believed, “the country can rise to the highest imaginable levels”. The president stated further that the athletes should have faith in the Nigerian nation further and that the country as a whole is very proud of what they have achieved. He declared that generations to come will celebrate the dominant and exhilarating performance that had been displayed by these athletes.

The Nigerian team to the Los Angeles Special Olympic was able to win medals in all categories of the event.  There is plan to give the team a rousing welcome by the president and he plans to host them alongside their technical crew in the presidential villa. It will be recalled that the special Olympic teams from Nigeria since time immemorial have always done the country proud, both in continental and global events. This was the case in all known special Olympic events till date. This was also the very first time that the president Federal Republic of Nigeria would be playing host to the special Olympians from Nigeria since time immemorial.  This rousing welcome planned by the Federal Government is expected to serve as a boost to the morals of the special Olympians and further solidify their resolves to do the country proud in future events. It is also hoped that future participants in these events would be encouraged by the president’s move and will therefore put in their best for the country in future events.

In comparison with normal Olympic events, the Nigerian special Olympic teams have always done better. The members of Team Nigeria in other Olympic events have always fallen short of expectations. The highest number of gold medals ever won by Nigeria in any normal Olympic event had been 2 and this was in far away 1996. Nigerians reacting to this event wish that the able-bodied men participating in the normal Olympics would take a cue from the special Olympians and start carting home lots of medals from continental and global events. The president is expected to reward the special Olympians handsomely for their gallant performances.

By Anthony Olawale Ojo