With the Olympics being held this year as planned tension are on a rise as the countries are making sure that their players are kept healthy and safe from the corona virus. Apart from the safety of the teams countries also have to decide what type of team is going and only if it is absolutely necessary for extra people to go with the team. This is because with the world shutting down countries’ economies were near failing in 2020 and it will take a little time for them to recover.
Coming back to the problem at hand all countries are making strict decision in the decision as to apart from the athletes who else will be accompanying the teams. As Nigeria’s track and field stars depart Abuja for the Tokyo Olympics coach Samuel Onikeku has been dropped from the trip. Nine coaches, including five from Nigeria and four personal coaches of some of the top athletes, will make the trip to Tokyo.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, said that the team would depart and The Secretary-General of AFN, Adisa Beyioku, will lead the track and field contingent. Okawa quoted “The AFN Secretary-General will travel with the athletes. I will join them at the Olympics,”
The Tokyo Olympics Games will begin on July 23, but athletics events will begin from July 29. While Blessing Okagbare, Grace Nwokocha and Rosemary Chukwuma will feature in the women’s 100m, Okagbare, Nwokocha and Favour Ofili will take part in the women’s 200m at the Olympics. Tobi Amusan will compete in the women’s 100m hurdles, while Ese Brume is Team Nigeria’s hope in the long jump. Ruth Usoro will compete in the triple jump. Annette Echiwunke will take part in the hammer event, while Chioma Onyekwere will compete in the discus event. Patience Okon-George is Nigeria’s contender in the women’s 400m.
The women’s 4x100m relay team has Okagbare, Nwokocha, Chukwuma, Knowledge Omovoh and Ofili.
The men’s team will have Divine Oduduru, Enoch Adegoke and Usheoritse Itsekiri in the 100m, while Oduduru is the sole athlete in the 200m. Chukwuebuka Enekweshi will feature in the discus event, while the mixed 4x400m team has Chidi Okezie, Samson Nathaniel, Ifeanyi Ojeli, Okon-George, Omovoh, Imaobong Nse-Oko, Glory Okon and Yinka Ajayi.
