Almost three head ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung has directed that preparations for the games must begin soon.
Dalung gave the directive to the National Sports Federations at the closing ceremony of the 2017 National Karate Open Championship in Abuja.
He said that if the sports federations hoped to win laurels at the 2020 Olympics then preparatons must begin early.
Represented by Tayo Oreweme, the Director of the Sports Ministry’s Federation and Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), the minister noted that the Tokyo Games would be karate’s first Olympic outing.
“This will be the first time karate will feature at the Games, hence the need to commence preparations and be part of that history,’’ he said.
Dalung said it was important that preparation should commence immediately in view of the need for the Karate Federation of Nigeria to have its athletes qualify for the Games.
Nigeria to begin preparation for 2020 Olympics – Dalung
