By Martin Odiete

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach left Nigeria on Thursday after a two day working visit with the message that Nigeria Athletes should work hard enough to have her National Anthem played at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Bach gave this charge during an interactive session with a handful of Nigeria Athletes at the VIP section of the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja on Thursday. The meeting also had in attendance top officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports led by the Minister, Sunday Dare. Presidents of the Nigeria sporting Federations and members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee led by its president, Habu Gumel
were also at the meeting.  

The IOC president said, “My first wish to all of you and the National Olympic Committee is that in about eight months from now you will have many more opportunity to sing your National Anthem , and this is what we are here for. To first of all show our appreciation, to show our support for the National Olympic movement of Nigeria, and the Athletes in their preparation for Tokyo 2020. To also say thank you for all the great work that has been done here in Nigeria and to the leadership of Nigeria Olympic Committee, your president, my friend Habu Gumel,”

Addressing the IOC president, Nigeria Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare noted that Nigeria share in the Olympic spirit while also assuring the IOC president that Nigeria is looking forward to participate at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Let me say that Nigeria is a part of the Olympic movement in heart and soul. You have been here a couple of hours, and you have seen that. Over the years, our participation in the Olympic has been full and complete even as we prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We share in the Olympic spirit, this country and its Athletes also share in the values of the Olympics that seek to promote educational values, social responsibility, the joy of effort, when you try and you win a medal, you get the joy of effort. Those are the very core values of the Olympics and those values are shared not only by this country but also by the Athletes that represent this country.

“We look forward to Tokyo 2020 as we prepare, and this visit is historic coming less than nine months to the Olympics, and knowing that you are quite busy, yourself and your entire team, to find time to come to Abuja, Nigeria for two days. We thank you so much,” He said.

At the opening ceremony of the ANOCA headquarters in Nigeria, Sunday Dare thanked him the IOC president for his August presence maintaining that it is a landmark in the development sports on the continent of Africa.

“It is landmark in the development of sports on the continent of Africa. It is a day that the entire black race should be proud of. And as Nigerians, we are proud to be a major contributor to the actualization of this day. 

“Aside the obvious fact of the Commissioning of the Building that would from today be the administrative and technical hub of sports administration on the continent, we also have in our midst, the leaders of the world governing body for sports, ably led by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach. 

“The journey to this day started some 13 years ago when Nigeria alongside 6 other African countries bided to host the Headquarters of ANOCA and become the Olympic capital of Africa. After a rigorous selection process, Nigeria was eventually selected as the Host Country for the umbrella body of the Olympic movement in Africa at the General Assembly, which took place in Kenya in June, 2006. 

“With the selection and signing of the Headquarters Cooperation Agreement on February 21, 2007, the ANOCA Secretariat, hitherto in Yaoundé, Cameroon was moved to Abuja, Nigeria. 

“While biding as a Host Country, the Federal Republic Nigeria had promised to build a benefiting Headquarters for the continental body. On the road to fulfilling that promise, the foundation laying ceremony for the building was performed on July 6, 2009, by Dr. Jacques Rogge, the immediate past President of the International Olympic Committee. 

“I must say we are indeed lucky to also have present here today to commission the building, the current President of the IOC, Dr. Thomas Bach. 

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the commitment of Nigeria to the completion of this edifice has been unwavering. It is for this reason that the Federal Government ensured the continued funding of the project from inception to completion. 

“It is my sincere hope that the vision for which the project was executed would be achieved for the benefit of all Stakeholders,” he said.