We will participate in 2024 Olympics, assures weightlifting president

The President, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Abdul Ibrahim, has pledged that weightlifters will participate in the next Olympics in 2024 in Paris, France.

Ibrahim disclosed this to Journalists after the first NWF board meeting at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, on Friday, in Abuja.

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According to him, his first priority as the Federation president is the welfare of athletes, coaches and referees.

“We divided ourselves into committees and everybody is very happy, for the first time, our first board meeting holds in this administration without any arguments.

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“My priority is all about the welfare of the athletes, coaches and referees.

“We want to create an opportunity of synergizing with institutional bodies, such as the military, para military and Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA),” he said

He said the Federation was also preparing for the Commonwealth games next year.

“I assure you that we will be at the next Olympics, we will be going for the qualifiers for the  commonwealth games in December.

“I have donated my house for camping in Lokoja next week, athletes will be invited for camp and start training before the official camping. You can’t put people in the camp for few days and expect them to perform magic,” he said

He added that the Federation must produce the next generation of athletes, through grassroots competitions.

“Grassroots development is very key, we must produce the next generation that will represent the country in future encounters,” he added.

He also noted that the Federation would come up with appropriate funding methods to enable it participate in all international competitions.

“We will continue to put our funds, and that is what we have been doing before now. If people see that we are putting in our funds, they will be able to key into it,” he said.

The Voice Media Trust ( VMT NEWS) reports that the 28 newly elected Presidents of Sports Federation were inaugurated by the Minister of the Sports and Youths Development, Mr Sunday Dare, on Friday.