THE newly elected Vice-President of Athletic Federation of Nigeria who also doubles as Zonal Representative South West, Hon. Olamide George has reassured that his coming into the Association would bring rapid development to the game.
George who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Ondo State House of Assembly, and Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Olusegun Mimiko on youth development disclosed that he will focus on rebranding the secondary school sports, NIPOGAL games, NUGA games and private secondary school games.
He further promised to run an open door policy and also make sure that Nigeria would compete at the Olympic Games which have eluded Nigeria recently.
Similarly, he affirmed that he will focus on organizing annual athletic championship in the south west where talents discovered would be nurtured to be future stars.
On the recent recycling of athletes such as Blessing Okagbare, he assured that plans are underway to discover burden talents through sponsorship of athletics championship and assure that he will focus on discovery of talents that can compete with the Nigerian champions.
George, who was once an athlete at the FUTA where he won gold and silver medal at National Championship hinted that he has the love of the game attached and assure that plans are underway to encourage athletes to attend seminars, local and international trainings and also encouragement of coaches through trainings.
He revealed that his program will include educating athletes on the habit of taking drugs and assured that they will be trained on the drug they use and on the use of banned substances would be discouraged and checkmated.
The vice-president, South West, however used the occasion to call on private sectors, individuals and other eminent Nigerians to come in the aid of development of athletics saying that athletics does not have any age cheat, assuring that Nigeria’s lost glories both at World and Olympic championships would be revived and Nigerians will see a good change.
Also speaking, Chairman Oyo State Tennis Federation, Dr. Isaac Friday Ogada described the election of Hon. Olamide George as a good success to the development of athletics and described him as a man who has the passion to move the game forward.
He unearthed that he is working together with him by sponsoring of athletics championship, as well as assisting in developing talents from the grassroots and assured that the new vice-president is a man of intellectual, sound and will work to move the game forward.
