Senate to Probe Sports Minister, NOC After Rio Debacle

Senate to Probe Sports Minister, NOC After Rio Debacle

The Senate has said it will probe the Minister of Sports, Barr Solomon Dalung and the National Olympics Committee, NOC, for the roles played in Team Nigeria’s shambolic outing at the recently concluded Rio 2016 Olympics.

It was another disappointing performance from Nigerian athletes at the quadrennial Games as they could only manage the bronze medal in men’s football after a turbulent preparatory campaign.

Also, the upper legislative House frowned at the U-23 football team for accepting cash donation from a Japanese philanthropist after their Bronze-medal finish.

This was disclosed by Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Obinna Ogba, during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Vanguard reports.

He however acknowledged that the non-performance of Nigerian athletes was in parts attributable to funding and logistical impediments, which according to him, the Senate intends to look into.

“My committee intends to invite the NOC to come and brief us on the Olympics. Apart from the late arrival of our athletes’ kits, you can see even our national anthem at the opening ceremony was the wrong one,” said Ogba, who was part of the official delegation to Brazil.

“So, all these, we are going to find out what happened when we resume.”

On the donation of $390,000 to the Olympic Football team by a Japanese plastic surgeon and football enthusiast, Dr. katsuya Takasu, the legislator said it was wrong of the team to receive the money because its source was unknown.

“I don’t think it was nice for our country to accept such money given the happenings around the world now. Money is good but it’s not every money that comes your way that you collect. So, I associate myself fully with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation,” he said.