Edo Festival: Team Nigeria Ready For Olympics, Says Sports Minister

Following the conclusion of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) on Wednesday night and the impressive performances of some athletes, focus now shifts to the Tokyo Olympics with the home- based Team Nigeria expected to camp in Lagos, and Port-Harcourt to commence earnest build-up.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in a statement made available to AllNews by his media office, "with the successful completion of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, all our attention now shift to the Tokyo Olympics.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare being introduced to Handball Players during the Finals of the Male Handball Match between Lagos and Kano States on 12th April 2021 at the UNIBEN Sports Complex

"As the curtain draws to a close here, another opens to 100 days countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where athletes are expected to signify to the world that we are ready, and that we mean business.

"The successes recorded here (at Edo 2020) would propel us to  achieving greater success in Tokyo.

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"Preparations will now begin in earnest with the athletes  to be camped in Port-Harcourt (Rivers State) and Lagos.

"We are also monitoring the performances of the  foreign-based athletes closely."

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Dare commended the feats of Ifiaezibe Gagbe who won 15 medals in Swimming; 10 year old Stephanie  Onusiriuka who won 3 medals in gymnastics; as well  as Grace Nwokocha who won the 100m and 200m female events which ensured her qualification for the Olympics.