The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports has made arrangements to commence National Camping of its Athletes and Officials in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in 2021.

The camping exercise is poised to bring back Nigeria’s athletes to their individual sports having been on recess for so long due to COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a release Thursday, the ministry announced that the local camping which is coming at the resumption of sporting activities in Nigeria is geared towards early preparations of athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo games.

The Ministry in conjunction with the Delta State Government organized the COVID-19 OKOWA Athletics Resumption Meet in Asaba on November 6, 2020 to test the application of the COVID-19 Sports Code and Resumption Protocol in a competition environment, which was a resounding success paving way for the reopening of Sporting activities in Nigeria.

The following National Sports Federations have been earmarked to commence the first phase of the camp in their locations:-

Taekwondo                              –        Abuja

Rowing & Para-Rowing           –        Abuja 

Canoeing & Para-Canoeing      –        Abuja  

Para-Powerlifting                     –        Lagos

Other Sports Federations where athletes have qualified for both Games will commence camping shortly afterwards in batches.

As a corollary to this, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in its effort to revamp the middle and long distance athletic culture in Nigeria is opening a training camp in Pankshin, Plateau State specifically for road races within this period.

All camps are to strictly observe the COVID-19 Sports Code and Resumption Protocol already developed by the Ministry in both training and accommodation venues.