Paris 2024: Early Preparations and Athlete Welfare Are Top Priorities – Sports Minister

The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has emphasized that the Ministry’s focus is on the well-being and early training of athletes as Team Nigeria prepares for the All-Africa Games in Accra and the Summer Olympic Games in Paris next year, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.

During a conversation with his media team in Abuja, the Minister stressed the importance of starting preparations in advance. He highlighted the benefits of providing early training opportunities for athletes, allowing them to get into optimal shape and acclimatize to the expected weather conditions.

The Minister cited the example of the Jamaican track team, which spent around a month in Budapest ahead of the World Athletics Championships. He noted the marked difference in performance between athletes with such exposure and those without.

To ensure athletes are adequately prepared, acclimated, and exposed to proper facilities before championships, the Ministry will secure training camps, both within and outside Nigeria, as needed.

However, the Ministry acknowledges the dual reality of Nigerian athletes based abroad. While they benefit from world-class training environments, it may pose challenges in scheduling pre-championship training camps. Senator Enoh affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to collaborating with athletes and Federations to ensure smooth execution of plans without disruption.

The All-African Games are set to take place in Accra, Ghana, from March 8 to 23, 2024, while the Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France, from July 24 to August 11, 2024.