President Buhari Hands Over Team Nigeria Ahead of the Olympics

President Buhari Hands Over Team Nigeria Ahead of the Olympics

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, presided over the formal handing over of Team Nigeria ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games scheduled to begin August 5.

According to SA Media, Femi Adesina, President Buhari also received the honour of Grand Patron of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) by its president, Habu Gumel.

At a ceremony in the Statehouse that also had in attendance the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Sports and Youth Development Solomon Dalung and FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, President Buhari received the Olympic flag from Dalung and then charged team Nigeria to do the country proud at the Games.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), last week, released a 36-man team to represent the country at the Games in Rio de Janeiro, but its president, Solomon Ogba, disclosed that the country’s participation is in danger owing to the limited funds that has so far hampered the preparations.

The House of Representatives, however, intervened by issuing a directive to the federal government for the immediate disbursement of funds to the team.

It warned of a repeat of the disaster at the London 2012 Games where the country failed to win a single medal.

Team Nigeria departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next week.