FG approved over N12 billion budget for Paris Olympics: Sports Minister
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan-Enoh, said on Thursday that the federal government had approved more than N12 billion in budget for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Owan-Enoh also told reporters in Abuja that preparations for the games were on top gear.
Paris Olympics, its 33rd edition, is scheduled from July 26 to August 11 in France.
Similarly, the Paralympics is expected to be held from August 28 to September 8.
According to Owan-Enoh, all hands are on deck to ensure that the approved funds are released to the athletes as soon as possible.
He said, ”We have a budget of over N12 billion, which has been approved by the federal government.
”The budget is divided into two parts: N9 billion for the Olympics, while over N3 billion has been earmarked for the Paralympics.
”There are various provisions for the athletes and their welfare in the budget, and before the team leaves for Paris, I am going to have the opportunity of visiting them.”
He also said that Team Nigeria were still at their training camp in Germany, adding that the team’s Captain to the Olympics would be unveiled shortly before their departure.
The minister also said his target was to ensure that the team surpassed the achievements of the 1996 Olympic Games, which he described as the best outing of Team Nigeria to date.
The 1996 Olympics remains Nigeria’s most successful games, with six medals won in total.
Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the Long Jump, while the U-23 male football team also won their event. The quartet of Falilat Ogunkoya, Bisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf and Charity Opara won silver in the 4×100 metres relay.
Ogunkoya also won a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter race; Mary Onyali also won a bronze medal in the women’s 200-meter sprint.
Also, Duncan Dokiwari earned a third-place finish in the men’s Super Heavyweight boxing event.
The minister also expressed his appreciation of President Bola Tinubu and other stakeholders for their commitment and support for the team.
He said the House of Representatives yesterday (Wednesday) announced N100 million as their support for Team Nigeria.
(NAN)
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