Ndanusa Promises Glorious Delhi 2010

The Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Engr. Sani Ndanusa has said that arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the country does well in the 2010 India Commonwealth Games.

Ndanusa was speaking in Abuja while giving the itinerary of the Queen's Baton Relay Team expected to arrive Nigeria on December 18, 2009 and will stay be in Abuja and Lagos till December 20.

The Queen's Baton Relay is to the Commonwealth what the Olympic Torch Relay is to the Olympic Games. It is also expected to go through the 71 member nations of the Commonwealth before the next Games in Delhi, India in 2010.

He recalled that Nigeria has participated in 11 Commonwealth Games and made appreciable impacts including the 1994 event in Victoria, Canada where she won a total of 37 medals.

On how best to ensure that the nation's athletes pose a five star performance at the Games, the Minister revealed that as from the first quarter of the 2010, the athletes will go into close camping.

"After about six weeks in the camp, they will be exposed to some tournaments to test their level of readiness for the Games; already we have some partners who are interested in giving us all the support".

Nigeria will be participating in Athletics, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Table Tennis and Elite Athletes for Disabled.

The Queen's Relay Baton is coming to Nigeria for the third time, the first was Nigeria in 2002 before the Manchester Games and then in 2006 before the Melbourne event.

Also at the briefing was the Director General of the NSC, Dr. Patrick Ekeji and other Directors of the Commission.