Ondo State’s National Athletics Development Centre has been officially launched by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
The centre, which has been put in place to flag off the Basic Olive Opportunity Sports Training (BOOST) managed by the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI), had its inauguration ceremony held in a massive ceremony that took place at the Jojein hotel and Resort in Akure.
NSDFI is also targeting raising 4.5 million Nigerians to donate N200 each to the Olympic Grant in a bid to bankroll the preparation of 90 athletes in five sports for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Governor Akeredolu who promised to lend his full support to the sports development exercise, charged sport lovers in the state to raise the funds required to fast track the actualisation of the initiative for the benefit of the state’s youths and children.
NSDFI Director General, Olajide Fashikun explained that the Olympic Grants is a 90-day project. The funds will be given to 90 elite athletes in five sports to intensify preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. “We are launching a N900 million Olympic grants drive for 90 athletes in five sports today,” said Fashikun.
“The code name for the drive is “Be bold. Be human. Be real.” We are only asking 4.5 million Nigerians to donate N200 to us in 90 days”.
The former Zamalek SC of Egypt ex-star handball player also took time to state the immediate plans and aspirations of the sports development programme: “Each of the 90 elite athletes will have four mentees who shall enjoy a N100,000 support fund. 24 of your kids, the Owena Little League, are leaving for Poland this year to represent the nation.
“It is about the community and the tomorrow of our children and youths. It is about sports business. In the next one year, if we review this project and it is not running on its own economy and pace, then, all of us have failed”, he stressed.
In his speech at the ceremony, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President Ibrahim Gusau stated that the federation has already put in place structures to further attract the private sector to sponsor track and field events.
Gusau also enthused that the programme will start yielding positive outcomes in the 2019 Athletic season just as he stated that model will ensure effective compensation for the Golden League participants next year.
“We have worked out modalities for the private sector funding of our sports. This model shall start to yield fruit by the beginning of the 2019 season. This new model will start to impact on the Golden League,” the President said.
“On thing is sure, the entire six legs of the league in 2019 season is a money spinner for participants,” he added.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung congratulated the state government for accepting the initiative, saying he looks forward to great stars who will change the podium fortunes of our nation coming out of Ondo State in the nearest future.
