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Nigeria in the Olympic Games 2008

Nigeria: Country Sees Medal Prospects in Football and Taekwondo

Nigeria in the Olympic Games 2008Nigeria places high hopes on the ability of the Dream 1V to repeat the Atlanta ‘96 feat when the country, against all odds, won the Olympic gold. She also sees medal prospect in taekwondo and the traditional forte for such medals; boxing and athletics, according to the Chairman and Minister of the National Sports Commission, Barrister Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba.

Though he admitted that preparations for the Beijing Games which starts next Friday were not the best, he, however, said there could be a repeat of the Atlanta performance when Dream 1 conquered Brazil and Argentina to win the gold in football. Only this time, he believes the female team could be counted on to be in line for a medal.

On athletics, he said going by individual qualities and the times the athletes have made at different meets, Nigeria has one of the best crop of athletes who could pose serious threat to other leading lights in both sprint and the quartets adding that boxing is another game the country looks forward to a medal at least.

“Quite hopefully football; both male and female, I am thinking of taekwondo and we are also thinking of boxing. I believe these are areas that we do have very high hopes. You must also not dismiss the relay team which has now come on board again, he said sounding optimistic.

Though he declined to say whether the eight gold medal task given by Mr. President was achievable, he noted that Nigeria must not be under rated for any reason irrespective of the less than impressive preparations that attended the country’s path to Beijing
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The minister said the athletes, who are already at their respective training camps, have had all their entitlements settled noting that the nation therefore expects them to justify not just the money expended on them but shoulder with pride the privilege of bearing the flag of the most populous black nation on earth.

Nigeria is being represented at the Games by a contingent of 125 athletes and technical staff. The government delegation to be led by Senate President David Mark leaves for Beijing tomorrow.

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