Swimming team returns from Rio Olympics News

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Swimming team returns from Rio Olympics

By Maduabuchi Kalu on August 16, 2016

The Nigerian Swimming Team to the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics, made up of two swimmers, a coach and the President of the Nigerian Aquatics Federation (NAF), Babatunde Fatayi Williams, who also doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), is expected back to the country on Tuesday following the end of swimming events on Saturday, in Brazil. This much was exclusively revealed to Daily Sports by no other person than the Chairman of Technical Committee of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF), Steve Onyeacholam.

According to Onyeacholam, the swimmers (Samson Okpuakpo and Rachael Tonjor) and their coach, Said Obadina, will be flying from Brazil.

Onyeacholam said the Nigerian representatives to the swimming events in Rio were home bound as it is the tradition of FINA that once the events come to an end, both athletes and officials are to depart from the competition venue to their respective countries.

He said based on that the country’s representatives will be due in the country on Tuesday making them the first Nigerian athletes to the Rio Games to return home from the quadrennial sports fiesta.

“I hope that our swimming team to the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympics will be due in the country on Tuesday since the swimming events ended on Saturday,” Onyeacholam said.

“You know that our swimmers went to the Rio Olympics via the invitation extended to us by Fédération Internationale de Natatio (FINA), otherwise known as International Swimming Federation under what is known as universal qualification category.

“Of course you know that the aquatics sports are most disciplined sports. Once the events end in any championship, both athletes and officials are to vacate the venue and go home. It is the tradition.

“And we are all aware that the swimming events ended on Saturday; so I am hopeful that they will certainly return to the country in accordance with the tradition of the world body,” Onyeacholam explained.

Speaking further, Onyeacholam explained that despite the fact that some athletes and officials went to Rio, those in the country have not gone to sleep as frantic efforts are being made to ensure that the forthcoming Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship (CNS) is a success.

He said in a bid to ensure hitch free championship, the venue of the championship, the Swimming Pool Complex of Teslim Balogun Stadium is being worked on for the championship.

“It is true that some of our swimmers and officials are away to Rio for the games, those of us who are at home‘ve not gone to sleep waiting for them to return before we start working on our flagship annual competition, the CNS Open.

“As we speak, the Chairman of the Facilities Committee, Rev. Samuel Jesimiel, is working hard on the swimming pool complex of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue to this year’s championship in order to get it ready for the championship.

“We wouldn’t want anything to impede the championship that is why; we have started on time to ensure that pool will be ready for the championship,” he explained.

Also speaking on the preparations of the Federation for the CNS Open, Rev. Samuel Jesimiel corroborated what Onyeacholam said even as he revealed to Daily Sports that he was on the pool working to ensure that it is ready for the championship next month by God’s grace.

“You know as the chairman of the facilities’ committee, it is my responsibility to ensure that the facilities are ready for any championship and our flagship annual event, the CNS is not excluded,” Jesimiel said.

“What some of you don’t know is that before any competition, I start my work two to three weeks before the tournament. I work hard to ensure that everything goes well for the competition and that is exactly what I am doing now at Teslim Balogun Swimming Pool.

“I resume here every day by 7am and close by 6pm, all in a bid to ensure that everything works out well. I am making sure that the pool is treated to be ready for the championship by next month and I have to also ensure that I find good and affordable hotels for our swimmers and guests,” Jesimiel explained.

•Photo shows Rachael Tonjor.

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 16, 2016