Nigeria joins rest of the world in Olympic Day Celebration

Photo: From L-R Nkana Mbora Lagos Liaison Officer of the Sports Ministry, Olympic Gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, Austin Odije of the NOC and 3rd Vice President of NOC, Olamide Oyedeji

Nigeria Olympic movement, Saturday, June, 29, 2024 joined the rest of the world in marking this year’s Olympic Day Celebration.

Not minding the early mourning down pour, many sports loving Nigerians trooped out to the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to be part of the celebration.

Presenting the speech of the IOC President, Thomas Bach at the occasion, President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Gumel who was represented by the movements 3rd Vice President, Olumide Oyedeji, enjoined all member nations to take advantage of the Olympic family principle and ensure that the world enjoy an unforgettable celebration of sport achievements at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The IOC President, who described this year’s Olympic Day Celebration as a ‘Special One’ as it coincides with the 2024 Paris Olympics noted that this year’s Games offers athletes the platform to inspire the world with the Olympic motto of togetherness.

“This year’s Olympic Day Celebration is a very special one, taking place just ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the excitement building, the athletes, the fans, the entire Olympic community are all looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games: younger, more inclusive, more urban, more sustainable. The very first Olympic Games with full gender parity. The very first Olympic Games fully in line with our Olympic Agenda.

“The Olympic Games always build bridges and bring people together in peace and solidarity. This is the beauty of sport; it inspires us to move on , it brings out the best in us, keep us healthy, and brings us all together as friends and as a community, wherever we are and whichever way we choose to move,” said.

“Together with all of you, I look forward to this year’s Olympic Games that will be an unforgettable celebration of the joy of sport, for a celebration of our shared humanity ; for a celebration of peace!” Bach added.

Also speaking at the event, 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa admits that the Olympic Day Celebration is a great thing for lovers of sports, nothing that this year’s celebration is worth celebrating as it falls in Olympics year.

” It means a lot for all Nigerians that knows what sport is all about. A market woman in the street may not know it’s importance but some of us that knows what sport is all about know that today is a great day in the Olympic family, and it’s worth doing it because this year is Olympic year.

” Even if we have not been doing it in the past, I think it’s a great thing celebrating it this year, because we’re in full gear for our team moving to Paris.

On her expectations for Nigeria at this year’s Olympics, she stated with optimism that it’s going to be like Atlanta 1996 considering the calibre of world class athletes in Team Nigeria

Apart from Lagos, this year’s Olympic Day Celebration, was also celebrated in 13 other states across Nigeria, namely; Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Gombe, Kogi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Plateau, Kwara, Osun, Delta, Imo and Adamawa.

The event was spiced with the demonstration of some sport events like boxing, tug-of-war, Muay Thai boxing, skating, jogging by Joggers Fitness Club, Heritage Dancers and Aerobics display by Chairladies.