The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olympic

  • Preparation for the next Olympic

    Shortly after the return of the nation’s contingent from the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, South America, a disappointed Nigerian through an electronic media suggested that the country should forget about upcoming 2019 edition of the games and look forward to 2023.

    Other stakeholders and lovers of sport in the country called for earnest and unhindered preparations for the next Olympics. It is, however, sad that we seem to be putting the sad event behind us so quickly.

    Actually, it is glad to hear of desires and arrangement to pursue grassroots sports in many parts of the country. How far this effort will improve the fate of sports in the country is left for conjecture or the future to tell.

    In the early days of nationhood, Nigeria did quite well in many areas of sports and indeed emerged African and world champions. That era that is nostalgically referred to as good-old-days witnessed sports competition from primary, schools secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Other institutions like the armed and paramilitary forces made outstanding contribution to sports as well. Corporate bodies like multinational companies were not left out.

    Emphasising or highlighting what went wrong may not be as important as finding a way of moving forward and ensuring that honours and glory should return to Nigeria in the area of sports.

    While private enterprises are also relevant in sports development, government has a pioneering role to play. Sports complexes and stadia must be established in local councils, state capitals and other densely populated areas. The establishment should also be followed by maintenance and steady and consistent organisation of competitions.

    Not only does sport help in growing sound minds, it also plays the role of full employment to active participants. Surely, Nigeria needs huge investment in sports especially now that we are seeking alternative sources of forces to remain relevant in global economy.

    • By Dickson Nnaji Ogbodo Agbani, Enugu State
  • PETER OKOYE HEADLINES ‘THE OLYMPIC MOMENT’

    PETER OKOYE HEADLINES ‘THE OLYMPIC MOMENT’

    EMORY Green Limited has teamed up with Olympic Milk to make Nigeria’s 56th Independence Day celebrations a memorable one as it puts together an event tagged The Olympic Moment.

    Billed to take place Saturday, October 1 at the QuadT Event Centre, Gbagada, Lagos with a follow up event on Sunday October 2 E99 event centre, Ibadan, the event will be headlined by none other than Peter Okoye of the Psquare fame..

    Okoye who is the brand ambassador of Olympic milk is expected to grace the event alongside other surprise talents.

    Tokunbo Nasamu, CEO Emory Green Limited said; “the event is our own way of bringing deserving couples together under one roof to have fun and as well interact with the only milk brand that is most concerned about their lifestyle”. Also, couples attending are expected to participate in the bonding games and taking the Today I Willpromise to be Active for Longer. Organisers say that there would be a raffle draw with lots of prizes to be won.

  • Nutricima unveils Olympic Nutri-Active milk

    Nutricima Limited, a subsidiary of PZ Cussons, has re-launched its premium milk, Olympic, as part of measures to encourage Nigerians to embrace a more active lifestyle. The relaunch will see the brand roll out a new look in the coming months with a new nutrition proposition, “Active For Longer”, while still sticking to its promise of quality nutrition and low cholesterol content.

    At a briefing on the relaunch at the company’s Ilupeju office, the Marketing Director, Mr. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, said the newly- improved Olympic Nutri-Active milk demonstrates Nutricima’s commitment to providing consumers with nutrients to live a healthy and more active life.

    He said: “So many Nigerians work very hard and are actively engaged in one activity or the other. The new Olympic Nutri-Active is specially formulated to help consumers stay active all day long, regardless of the nature of what they are engaged in.

    “As a company, we understand that as much as people are disposed to an active lifestyle, the prevailing circumstances may cause them to be easily overwhelmed, tired or bow easily to anxieties, work stress and other pressures which can adversely affect their productivity, hence we are committed to helping the Nigerian consumers stay active and healthy at all times.

    “With Olympic Nutri-Active, people have the option of having a milk that contains all the essential nutrients they need to live a really active lifestyle and still not fret about their cholesterol level,” he added.

    The Category Marketing Manager, Olympic, Raphael Agbaje, said the brand realised the need to support consumers and help them achieve more.

  • Buhari salutes victorious Olympic soccer team

    President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday night praised the indomitable spirit of the Nigerian soccer team to the Olympics Games, which saw them flying over Denmark 2-0 to qualify for the semi-finals.
    “Again and again, the unconquerable Nigerian spirit has come to the fore, showing that where there is a will, there’s always a way. This was a team that was not given much chance, but which has now advanced into the semi-finals. Go for it. Go for the gold, and let the Nigerian banner be held proudly aloft once again on the global stage. We are almost there. Let’s go,” Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.
    President Buhari urged the Nigerian nation to pray and support the Nigerian contingent to the Olympics, especially the soccer team, so that the rest of the world will know that even in the face of economic adversity, the Nigerian spirit remains resolute and lifted high.
    “And this, we shall demonstrate in every sphere of our national life,” the President added.

  • My son brought Nigeria Olympic team luck in Rio – Shehu

    My son brought Nigeria Olympic team luck in Rio – Shehu

    Dream Team VI star, Shehu Abdullahi has told AfricanFootball.com  that the birth of his son brought luck to the team for them to beat Japan 5-4 just hours after they arrived Brazil from Atlanta.

    Shehu’s wife delivered a baby boy hours before the Uniao de Madeira of Portugal ace featured in Nigeria’s opening Rio 2016 Group B game against Japan in Manaus.

    “I am happy to be a father, it’s a thing of joy to me and the entire family. My son will be named Shehu Abdullahi Junior. He brought us luck in our first game against Japan because he was born few hours before the game,” Shehu told AfricanFootball.com.

  • Etebo: I’m lucky to equal 44-year Olympic record

    Etebo: I’m lucky to equal 44-year Olympic record

    Nigeria forward Oghenekaro Etebo has said he was lucky to score four goals and equal a record first set by West Germany’s Bernd Nickel, 44 years ago.

    Nickel scored his double brace in a 7-0 spanking of USA in front of 65,000 fans in Munich.

    Portugal-based Etebo, who said he is inspired by Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, scored his four goals against Japan on Friday.

    “When I scored those goals, I didn’t think about anything. It’s a game of football! Luck was on my side,” he told FIFA.com.

    “I’m not that perfect but I believe, like my coach says, once you get a chance, it’s better you convert it because you don’t know when you’re going to get another one.

    “I’m not a kind of special striker or fantastic goalscorer, but it’s better to be at the right place at the right time to score good goals.”

    Etebo was Goal King when Nigeria won the U-23 AFCON in Senegal in December.

    He subsequently scooped the CAF Most Promising Talent for 2015.

  • Union Bank commits N30m to Olympic

    Union Bank commits N30m to Olympic

    Union Bank Plc yesterday donated N30 million to support athletes and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) participating in the Olympic Games holding next month in Rio, Brazil.

    Speaking yesterday during the cash donation in Lagos, the bank’s Transformation Director, Joe Mbulu, said the lender recognises the value of sports to youth and grassroots development, which translates to national growth.

    “Our support for sports transcends supporting the Olympics. We believe that sports drives unity and Nigerians, no matter the tribe, will always support Team Nigeria,” he said.

    “We will continue to support sports. We understand that the times are tough but we cannot abandon the Team Nigeria.”

    The bank’s Head, Corporate Affairs & Corporate Communications, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, who announced the donation said athletes participating in the games will get N25million out of the N30 million while the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will get N5 million.

    According to her, the lender sees sports as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), youths and talent development.

    “Sports team life skills. We support the NOC and boost the participants’ morale. The private sector should learn to appreciate the athletes,” she said.

    Ekezie-Ekaidem also announced the selection of five athletes to represent the Team Union and promote the lender’s commitment to sports development.

    Nigeria is scheduled to compete at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, from August 5 to 21, this year.

    Since the nation made its debut in 1952, Nigerian athletes have participated in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, except for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal because of the African boycott.

  • WRESTLING OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: NWF to write IOC, UWW protest letters, as Turkish embassy denies Onyebuchi visa

    WRESTLING OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: NWF to write IOC, UWW protest letters, as Turkish embassy denies Onyebuchi visa

    Nigeria Wrestling Federation has revealed plans to write protest letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) following the refusal of the Turkish embassy in Abuja to grant visa to Blessing Onyebuchi who is to represent the country at the 2016 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 scheduled to hold between 6–8 May 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Onyebuchi and head coach Nigeria Wrestling Federation ( NWF), Victor Kodei were earlier scheduled to depart the shores of the country on Wednesday night for the Istanbul event which is the final qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. But the duo were denied visa by the Turkish embassy despite all the efforts by the wrestling federation to provide funds for their trip.

    In ạ text sent to SportingLife on Thursday, NWF President, Hon Daniel Igali expressed frustration at the development, promising to inform IOC and UWW about the development.  He described it as a big setback for the federation after sourcing for the funds.

    “I am just leaving the Turkish Embassy in Abuja after two days of trying without success to get visas for Onyebuchi Blessing 75kg female wrestler and Coach Victor Kodei who were scheduled to attend the last Olympic Wrestling qualifying tournament in Istanbul from 6-8 May.

    “This has sadly brought to an end all the efforts of an athlete who worked so hard for an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Olympics and become an Olympian for her country.

    “That Turkey of all countries can deny visas to Nigerian athletes after fulfilling all laid down protocols is humiliating. I will be sending a strongly worded protest letter to both the UWW and IOC regarding this Olympic disenfranchisement,” Igali said.

    Seven wrestlers have already secured slots for the Rio Games and the NWF had hoped to increase the numbers with Onyebuchi ‘s participation at the last Olympic qualification tournament in Turkey.

     

  • NOC/Olympic course in Rowing ends today

    The NOC/Olympic Solidarity Technical Course in Rowing will come to a colourful end today.

    The three-day train the trainers course started on 7th -10th April 2016 and is aimed at developing Rowing sports in Nigeria. Experts from the British Rowing and UK Sports, conducted the course.

    Twelve coaches were trained to identify more coaches as well as athletes. They were also charged with the responsibility of popularizing the sport in Nigeria

    As part of their developmental program they are scheduled to visit and inspect Unilag Lagoon front Akoka, Bics boats club, Lekki, Lagos and Jabi Lake, Abuja. They are also expected visit the British High commission and the Honourable Minster of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

    The second session of the NOC/Olympic Solidarity Technical Course in Rowing takes place in October at Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo.

  • 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: ATTF confirms Egypt’s qualification

    The result of the absence of  the Nigeria women team from the just concluded ITTF World Team Championship have started emerging as the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has confirmed Egypt’s qualification for the women team event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    Paucity of fund prevented the Nigeria women team from making it to Malaysia and for this reason they are automatically out of the race against Egypt in the continental slot for the women team event.

    At the Malaysia tourney,  the Egyptian  ladies were unbeaten in the group matches and they made it to the quarterfinal stage. But their unbeaten run was halted by Croatia in the quarter-final when the European giant defeated the Dina Meshref-inspired side 3-1 to finish among the top eight teams in Division Two made up of 24 teams. The defeat also punctured the dream of Egypt making it to the Championship Division of the competition.

    “I can confirm to you that Egypt has already got the continental slot for the Women’s Team in Rio following the absence of Nigeria at the ITTF World Team Championship and also taking into consideration that Egyptian Women’s team performance very well to move up by four steps in the world rating. They were ranked 33 following their performance at the 2014 edition in Tokyo, Japan, but their performance in Malaysia has shot them to 29 in the world. With this development, the distance between Egypt and Nigeria is quite far for any team to qualify ahead of the North African team,”ATTF President, Khaled El-Salhy confirmed.