NAN-S-1
Camp
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Sept. 26, 2017 (NAN) Bose Omolayo, a Paralympics athlete, on Tuesday urged the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports to ensuree the immediate camping of athletes for the postponed International Paralympics Committee (IPC) Championships.
Omolayo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this would help the national team prepare ahread of the announcement of a new date for the championships.
“As it is now, the postponement will help to intensify athletes’ preparations for the championships holding in Mexico City from Tuesday to Oct. 3,’’ the 2016 Rio Paralympics gold medalist said.
NAN reports that the IPC-organised championships were postponed due to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake which ravaged in Mexico on Sept. 19.
It was the first time that the IPC had been forced to postpone a major championship, expected to host no fewer than 1,400 athletes and officials.
Omolayo said Nigerian athletes for the championships had been training on their own, and they were yet to be invited to the national camp by the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF).
“The postponement has been made official by the IPC, organisers of the championships. But, to us here in Nigeria, it’s like an opportunity for our sports authorities to do the needful.
“I think it is necessary for us to have a national camp as part of final preparations for this magnitude of championships.
“This is because it is a qualifying series for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
“The opportunity has presented itself. So, I am begging the federation (NPPF) and government (the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports) to consider us for a national camp, until the new date is fixed,’’ she said.
The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games +61kg silver medallist expressed confidence that with adequate support from the authorities, the athletes would be in a better form to excel at the championships.
NAN reports that Omolayo broke her own World Record (WR) in the women’s -79kg class, and won Nigeria’s sixth gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in Brazil.
NAN also reports that 10 athletes, comprising six female and four male, will represent Nigeria in the powerlifting event at the championships.(NAN)
MIL/FLP/OLAL
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(Edited by Folorunso Poroye and Olawale Alabi)