Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2004.
Ministry approves new Olympics role for
Onyali
By Uzor Odigbo
Correspondent, Lagos
Fresh facts have
emerged on the expected role the Sports Ministry has designed for Team Nigeria
captain Mary Onyali-Omagbemi at
the forthcoming Athens Olympic games.
A Sports Ministry
source revealed to Daily Independent that the ministry has given Onyali the
Team Nigeria’s flag bearer role to diffuse controversies generated by her inclusion in the Nigeria’s
Olympic team.
The source also
hinted that the queen of the track was considered to be a role model to many
Nigerians hence her new role, but maintained that Onyali may not compete in
Athens since she did not take part in the AFN’s organised Olympic trials.
The highly placed official noted that laws are made to be obeyed, adding, the
Ministry does not wish to run foul of rules governing Olympic participation
which did not favour Onyali.
“AFN had an
established rule governing athletes participation at the Olympics and the
Ministry in all intent and purposes would not want to over-rule the AFN,
that was why we have carved another role for Onyali to enable her
achieve her life time ambition of retiring at the Olympics. That does not mean
she would compete as AFN did not include her name in the list sent to the
Nigeria Olympic committee”
The source stated
that the Ministry’s decision was yet to reach Onyali for her acceptance.
He however said that Uchenna Emedolu, another injury hit athlete who missed the
trials has not sent any correspondent to the ministry or NOC on his state of health
which had stalled decisions on his case.
Meanwhile, AFN
president Dan Ngerem has reiterated the federation’s position in the case
of Onyali and Emedolu, stating that the decision not to include the two
athletes in the Olympic team for their none appearance at the trials still
stands, adding “in AFN, we don’t bend the rules”
