Leadership (Abuja)
19 October 2008
Sport minister/chairman, National Sports Commission, Abdulrahman Hassan Gimba, has expressed the commission's determination to boost grassroots sports development, in order to groom and nurture young and talented athletes for the 2011 Zambia 10th All African Games.
Speaking at the National Junior Gymnastics Under 8 and 10 championship held in Abuja "Towards 2011 All Africa Games and 2012 Olympic Games in London", the minister said the commission has been challenged following the aging of our athletes.
"This is a big challenge to the commission and that brought about the collaboration with the Gymnastic Federation of Nigeria to organise this championship."
The minister who was represented by Dr. Elias Gora, tasked other federation to come up with programmes that would assist the NSC in discovering talented athletes from the grassroots.
"We have been wallowing in darkness but now we want to do things right."
He said gymnasts should be developed while they are still very young because that is when they can maintain balance and stability.
Gora said that the commission has taken note of all the talents discovered during the championship and would ensure they are given adequate training here in Nigeria and abroad, ahead of the Zambia 2011 All African Games.
Sunday Simeon who represented zone 2 (Benin) won the gold in the floor events, male category, while Mercy James from FCT won the gold in the floor events, female category.
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