Permanent-secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Olusade Olusola has given the parastatal a pat on the back, over what he called adequate preparation of the country’s contingent for this year’s Youth Olympics in Argentina.
Speaking against the backdrop of the contingent’s trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina on Tuesday, sports247.ng learnt that Olusola is taking credit for a job well done in preparing the athletes to make Nigeria proud.
Olusola stated that the ministry did its best for the athletes before their departure, as they provided the necessary capacity building and proper welfare that will enable the team to excel.
A total of 17 athletes and 18 officials on Tuesday departed Abuja for Argentina ahead of the 2018 Youth Olympics slated for October 6 to 18.
The athletes include five athletics, two badminton, two table tennis, two rowing and canoeing, two wrestlers, two golfers and two boxers.
Nigeria will participate in eight sports and, while the second batch of the team would depart on October 10, Adesola urged them all to make the country proud.
Adesola added: “We have cultivated in them the passion to deliver and I am sure they will deliver knowing that they are not only representing Nigeria but Africa.
“They are not under any pressure to deliver but they have the passion to do so. Our slogan is: ‘whatever is good, is good for me.’
“They are going there to compete and come out victorious. The athletes are in high spirit, we have trained them very well to enable them excel.
“We encourage them to be kind, hospitable, considerate but to go for victory, they are not going to play the game under the influence of inducement, they are going for fair games.’’
