Team Nigeria Invited To London Youth Games

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

In an unprecedented move, organisers of the London Youth Games have officially invited Team Nigeria Diaspora to this year’s London Youth Games. The London Youth Games is a staggered event that holds between April and July across different sports and Team Nigeria Diaspora is expected to feature in netball and athletics events slated for June 13 and June 21 respectively.

An elated Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee Dr. Tunde Adelakun believes the invitation to the London Youth Games is an endorsement of the Committee’s efforts at strengthening the nation’s conveyor belt of talents taking advantage of the rich talent pool in the diaspora.

His words, “For the first time ever, in a move that seems to show the high level of engagement that we are having in communities globally, organisers of the London Youth Games have agreed to invite Team Nigeria Diaspora to this year’s London Youth Games and we aim to be present at the athletics and netball events. This is a big one for us as it allows us the chance to showcase the talents we have already put together and track other prospects who we might be calling on to form Team Diaspora in the National Intermediate Games and the National Sports Festival.”

He added, “We have our different scouts across the globe in specific sports and such events will encourage them to go the extra mile. It is not enough to spot these talents, there has to be platforms to access them as a team. The London Youth Games will afford us this opportunity. These are some of the events we believe we can use to promote who we are, and give encouragement to our discovered talents that we are in this for the long haul.”

He further applauded the National Sports Commission for the Diaspora Talents Development initiative.

“This is a game-changing initiative by the National Sports Commission. They are doing so much in developing sports at the grassroots across the nation, but are also keen to ensure that we take full advantage of these immense talents of Nigerian descent in the diaspora to ensure that the nation doesn’t lack talents to take over from today’s gladiators.

“We must give kudos to the NSC for being futuristic in their disposition to sports development. Let’s face it, these our kids abroad are also Nigerians and deserve to feature for the country if they desire. It is our assignment at the Nigeria Diaspora Talents Development Committee to spot, sensitise and keep them in tune with their roots”, he concluded.