Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has called on the nation’s sports administrators to start early preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Diri, at the opening of the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) in Yenogua, said that sports administrators should do less talking and act more for sports to develop in the country.
“Nigeria should start preparations for the next Olympics now and do less of talking.“Federations leadership should realise that Nigeria sports is in a mess and find a way to clean it, instead of internal wrangling and crisis being experienced in most of our sports federations.
“We should find a way of strength and encourage youth sports festival, that is where the future development of our sports,” he said.The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhruadjakpo, said that the state government was making sports a major venture.
“We have decided to identify our area of strength which includes swimming, wrestling and boxing.“The state will collaborate with the swimming federation to put up programmes that will enable us identify talents and enhance the potentials in the state.
“In wrestling, we have one of the best wrestling gymnasium in Africa; that is the reason Bayelsa is doing well in wrestling, we will keep improving and do more,” he said.Diri commended role the NOC was playing in Nigeria’s sports development.“History is being made after 20 years of last hosting of NOC event in the state, I want to commend the leadership of NOC for coming back to Bayelsa,” he said.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ismaila Abubarkar, said that Nigeria was prepared for the task ahead.He said Nigeria was already making plans to make more champions from Bayelsa, as the state has made Nigeria proud at international sports events.
“Bayelsa has produced international champions like Danniel Igali, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling,” he said.NOC President, Habu Gumel, in his welcome address, charged the sports federations presidents to produce constitution that would be used to govern their various federations.“Only 10 federations as of now have constitution approved by NOC and international bodies.”
It important for all sports federations to have their constitutions ratified by their congresses and the international bodies in line with the international best practices,” Gumel said.
He, however, commended the host state and delegates for making the AGM a reality despite COVID-19 challenges.“It is my delight and privilege to receive all delegates of our distinguished Olympic Family to the 2021 edition of the general assembly, here in the beautiful city of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Glory of all Land,” he said.
Gumel said the general assembly was both the business and social platform that brings together the top brass of sports in the country.(NAN)
