The Director General, National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye has called on the military to synergise with the Commission in the area of sports towards the successful realization of the 2016 Olympics.
Elegbeleye made the call when he received in his office on Friday, a 10-man delegation on a courtesy visit from the Council for Defense Sports of the Nigeria Armed Forces Headquarters led by the Director of Physical Training and Sports, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Efiok.
The Director General who lauded the military for their involvement and glorious representation of the country in the past recalled that the Nigerian military had produced outstanding sportsmen and women through various competitions who had represented Nigeria in different components of sports competitions and won laurels.
The Director General stated that as the 2016 Olympics is at the threshold, it is imperative to collaborate with the military as he said “the more we get collaboration from the military, the more we get trainers from the military, the better for Nigeria sports”.
He reiterated that the involvement of military in some sports federations have helped in entrenching discipline among athletes. He therefore promised that the Sports Commission will liaise with the Council for Defense Sports to fish out athletes from the military that will join others in the camp in preparation towards the 2016 Olympic competition. This will engender better representation at the Olympics and guarantee the hauling of medals by the Nigerian contingents.
Elegbeleye who identified the strengths of Nigerian athletes in various sports such as combat sports promised to tighten every loose end towards 2016 Olympics so that the country will surpass her previous achievements. He reeled out the outstanding performances of Nigeria’s sportsmen and women and noted that “Nigeria is performing much better in sports”.
Speaking earlier, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Efiok explained that the purpose of the visit was to call for synergy with the National Sports Commission in the area of sports administration and participation of military sportsmen and women. He recalled that the military had been a dependent ally in the past in the development of sports in country and was willing to contribute athletes towards the attainment of 2016 Olympic dream.
