The Minister of Sports Development has announced that Nigerian athletes, both local and foreign-based, are now receiving training grants and allowances, demonstrating the ministry’s commitment to athlete welfare. This initiative marks a significant milestone as home-based athletes will receive training grants for the first time in history.
In a recent interactive session at the games village in Paris, the minister emphasized the importance of supporting all athletes who represent Nigeria. Historically, training grants were only available to foreign-based athletes, causing frustration among home-based competitors. The minister confirmed that both groups will now benefit from these grants, along with other allowances.
“Every athlete representing Nigeria deserves support as they dedicate themselves to their country,” the minister stated. He highlighted the excitement among the athletes at the games village, which bodes well for their performances.
In Olympic news, Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili achieved a season-best time of 22.05 seconds, qualifying for the final of the women’s 200 meters at the Stade de France. Ofili finished just behind Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia in her semi-final heat, ranking third overall and advancing to the final.
In wrestling, Blessing Oborududu earned her spot in the semi-finals of the women’s 68kg event, demonstrating her prowess with an 8-2 victory over Canadian competitor Linda Morais.
Additionally, the Nigerian women’s senior basketball team, known as D’Tigress, has made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball tournament. They earned their place after a compelling 79-70 victory against Canada in their final group match. D’Tigress now faces the United States in the upcoming quarter-final showdown.
