IN keeping with our tradition Sports Editor, Onochie Anibeze has fired his first salvo. Minutes before take off from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, he was in touch with China and from his mobile workman (one of his many gadgets), he sent this story to you our esteemed readers.

RUDE Shock awaits Nigerian officials who have either traveled or about to take-off for the Beijing Olympics.Sports Vanguard can reveal exclusively that most of them would not be opportuned to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics live as only four tickets have been allocated to the country. What that means is that only those who have accreditation would watch the opening ceremony.

But Nigerian officials in Beijing are still fighting the International Olympic Committee, IOC, over what they called a 'meagre' allocation to the country.

And to make matters worse, Nigeria was not given event's tickets to enable them watch some of the events of the Olympics. And some angry Nigerian officials are blaming it on the late release of money that stopped them from securing tickets earlier.

As it is now, the only possible way for them to watch the opening ceremony is to buy tickets. And in the past, tickets to the opening ceremony are usually very expensive and goes for 500 to 1000 Euros.

Also, tickets for such popular events like Track and Field, Swimming, Tennis and Gymnastics usually attract higher amounts. And the only way out of their predicament is to watch the opening ceremony on TV.