Tony Ubani
25 March 2004
THE Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, yesterday warned dubious Nigerians who have flooded the Greek Embassy with fake documents in search of visa for the Athens Olympics to desist from doing things that would make it difficult for Nigerians with genuine intentions to encounter difficulties in getting visas for the Olympics. NOC President, Engineer Habu Gumel who was shocked at the high level of forgery that included forging his signature with that of NOC Secretary General Banji Oladapo by dubious Nigerians cried out yesterday that bad eggs would spoil the chances of genuine ones.
"We are already having monumental problems regarding the issuance of visas for the Olympics due to fraudsters who have been forging my signature with that of the Secretary General. We want to advise Nigerians wanting to go to the Olympics to go through the right channel which is the NOC to avoid embarrassment". He said that the NOC entered into an agreement with the Greek Embassy regarding the issuance of visas for Nigerians for the Olympics.
"They cannot give visas to Nigerians without our authorisation and we would be held responsible for any irresponsible act", Gumel who is also the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation said. Speaking on the preparation of Nigerian athletes for the Olympics, Gumel said that the accurate number of Nigerian athletes for the Olympics would be ready in May when all the qualifiers would have been completed. "For now, only eight federations have qualified and many more are still battling with their qualifications. We have concluded arrangements for accreditation for our athletes and officials. We are going to beat the deadline".
He however regretted that there were acute accommodation problems in Athens. "All hotels in Athens are fully booked except outside Athens. It would not affect our athletes as they would stay in the Games Village". The NOC President said however that all Nigerian athletes would undergo mandatory tests to avoid being disgraced in Athens. "All federations signed undertakings on-behalf of their athletes on drugs. We would organise seminars to let them know that drugs are harmful and can destroy their lives".The NOC President assured that the Nigerian contingent would do the country proud, ruling out a jamboree in the Olympics.
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