As Team Nigeria warms up for this year’s Tokyo Olympics in Japan, the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has disclosed that the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has assured all participating countries that the COVID-19 vaccines will be provided to every team, as part of effort to eradicate the effect of the virus on athletes that will be participating at the games.
NOC media officer, Phemmy Adetula, stated that the COVID-19 vaccines will go a long way to reducing the tension of the Nigerian athletes facing challenges of knowing their COVID-19 status when training for the Olympics.
He noted that the NOC is still monitoring events in Japan owing to the news of increasing cases of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the host nation, Japan.
Adetula, however, expressed optimism that the NOC would work closely with the sports ministry to ensure that the Nigerian athletes taking part in the Olympics get the best preparations.
“The IOC has said they would be giving COVID-19 vaccines to participating nations ahead of the Olympics. We are expecting it in Nigeria as it would assist athletes taking part in the Olympics clarify their COVID-19 status.
“On the recent rise of COVID-19 in the host country, Japan, I believe the IOC is working closely with the Japanese government to know the next step to take. It is the IOC that would give the final pronouncement on it if the Olympics will still hold or not when such issue comes up. On our part, we are monitoring events globally and also working with the IOC as Team Nigeria prepares for the Olympics,” he said.
