Mayor of Rio to Welcome Team Nigeria to Games Village

Representatives of Team Nigeria would take the centre stage on Wednesday, August 3 when the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo da Costa Paes, among other army of dignitaries welcome the largest black nation in the world to the Games Village of the Rio2016.

Each team from the 206 countries is welcomed to the athletes abode in a special ceremony led by the chieftains of the village as well as athletes and officials of other countries.

Team Welcome Ceremonies are a key occasion for athletes, team officials and their guests. It acknowledges their journey to the Games and marks the start of their residency in the village.

The brief but impressive ceremony would see all Nigerian athletes in their national colours.

The Nigerian green, white, green flag would be raised and the country’s national anthem played. President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, who is also a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC), and other Nigerian officials would be in attendance.

Brazilian officials have promised to make sure that the largest athletes’ village in history provides a comfortable, welcoming and inspiring place for all the competitors.

Team Nigeria would be housed in Block 11, occupying four floors with the Nigerian flag fluttering on top of their block.

In the Village, Technogym has installed a state-of-the-art gym, P&G will be managing a beauty salon while Samsung will provide each athlete with a free smartphone on arrival.

Earlier yesterday in Abuja, a send forth reception was held for Team Nigeria at the High Performance Centre, Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja.

The reception was to formally bid athletes farewell to the Games in Rio.

The Chief -de-mission of Team Nigeria who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa, thanked the athletes for their qualification and team spirit in the face of paucity of funds.

He charged them to shun all acts capable of bringing the nation to disrepute including the use of performance enhancing drugs and flouting of camp rules.

“Strive to win without cutting corners or cheating. In particular do not engage in doping. Win cleanly and fairly.”

He promised that the government will pay all camp allowances and other entitlements due to the athletes before the end of the games.

“I want to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will leave no stone unturned in the implementation of the directives of Mr. President that athletes’ welfare be prioritised.

“Let me inform you that all your allowances, claims and entitlements due to you will be settled before the close of the games. Already, affirmative action has been taken to ensure that your camp allowances are paid. I’m sure you have started to receive alerts.” Ohaa said.

He urged the athletes who are on their way to Rio at about now to note that over 170 million Nigerians will be banking on them to do Nigeria