Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has ordered national sports federations to immediately begin preparations for the 2020 Tokoyo Olympics.
The Federations were also directed to submit details of their plans for the preparations within ten days of the directive.
A letter from the minister addressed to all presidents of national sports federations, asked the federations to review their programs in view of the just concluded All African Games in Morocco.
The letter, sighted by our correspondent and dated 10th September 2019, said “Federations are required to submit their programs, reviewed in the light of the outcome of the AG, and progress recorded in the preparations for the Olympics to enable the ministry take necessary steps.
“Federations are therefore expected to develop and train their athletes and present them to the ministry in a timely fashion for competitions, which requires that the training of athletes should now be on and offseason.
“You are consequently directed to commence preparations in earnest for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” the letter requested.
The minister identified late preparations as the bane of Nigeria’s participation in championships and international tournaments, saying presidents and secretaries of federations are expected to embrace the new thinking aimed at addressing the challenge.
As stated in the letter, “Nigerians want medals, not failures or stories.”
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