Atlanta 96 is our benchmark for Tokyo Olympics – Dare

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare has charged the Caretaker Committee of the 30 Sports Federation that the athletes must come back from Tokyo Olympics with nothing less than six medals.

Speaking during the Inauguration in Abuja on Tuesday, Dare said, “We need to build on our past performance. We have the talents to excel. Atlanta 96 remains  our best outing at the Olympics. We came home with six medals. We won gold in football and Chioma Ajunwa won another gold in Long Jump.

“Atlanta is our benchmark for this Olympics if we cannot exceed it we must not go below it,” Dare told the Caretaker Committee chairman and the various Federations Secretaries.  

He charged the newly Inaugurated Caretaker Committees  to be focused  in the best interest  of  the nation.

Dare insisted, “the dissolution became necessary because of the expiration of your  tenures.    

It is also important because of the Tokyo Olympics which is less than 90 days away. This requires that all hands are on deck  because continuity is necessary to ensure preparations for the Games are not hampered in any way. The Caretaker Committees were thus specially selected to reflect our aspirations towards podium appearances at the Tokyo Olympics.”

The Minister warned that he will not hesitate to remove any Caretaker Committee that works at cross purposes with the Federations aspirations. 

“It is also important for the Caretaker Committees to know that your  jobs terminate immediately after the Olympics as elections into the Federations will be guided by the constitutions and the Code of Governance All the Federations with qualifiers will get needed support. We don’t have all the money, but we have the commitment. Let us know what  you need and we will support you all the way,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the 30 Federations, Musa Kida said, “this is a serious work you have given to us. We are going to be more efficient, dedicated and focus to realise this lofty objectives.

“Our quest is that Team Nigeria do well and we wll go all out to meet the set target. On a personal note, I want to say in Basketball,  the train that has been moving will not be derailed.”    

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