Commonwealth Games: Team Nigeria To Undego Compulsory Tests

OKAFOR CHINEDU MOSES

All the 100 athletes of Team Nigeria who will participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom would undergo compulsory tests.

This was the directive of the Federal Government of Nigeria that all relevant authorities must ensure that the necessary tests are carried out on all the athletes before the take-off of contingents to the holding in late July 2022.

Nigeria will be fielding 100 athletes in Judo, Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting, Table tennis, Wrestling, Para-table tennis, Para-athletics, and Para-powerlifting in the competition.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, gave the directive today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja during a meeting held with concerned parties of the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG).

According to him, Nigeria will not hesitate to drop any athlete who attempts to tarnish the image of the country again.

“We will prefer to come back from the games without medals rather than being embarrassed a second time, there must be no exceptions,” he insisted.

Mr Dare, who said that the countdown to the game has already started, with about two months to the event, added that the ministry is already working with the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) to ensure that contingents’ accommodation, camping, testing, ticketing, and kits are adequately taken care of.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar, stated that nine Federations are already lined up to fly the banner of Nigeria at the games.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, stated that accreditation is ongoing, adding that 14 media houses and 701 journalists applied to cover the games.

In his remarks, the Director, Federation Elite and Athletes Department, (FEAD)/Chef de Mission, Simon Ebhojaiye, disclosed that the campings are ongoing while the official phase of camping will commence from May 30 to June 30 and July 2 – July 21, 2022, respectively.

He explained that the Birmingham Games Village will be officially opened on July 22, 2022, while the opening ceremony for the Games will hold on July 28, 2022.