send forth reception was held for Team Nigeria on Sunday at the High Perfor­mance centre, Package B of the National stadium, Abuja.

The reception was to formally bid the athletes farewell to the Olympic Games in Rio, which starts on August, 5, 2016.

On the occasion, the Chief -de-mission of Team Nigeria who is also the perma­nent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa , thanked the athletes for their qualification and team spirit in the face of paucity of funds.

He charged them to shun all acts capable of bringing the nation to disrepute includ­ing the use of performance enhancing drugs and flouting of camp rules.

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“Strive to win without cutting corners or cheating. In particular do not engage in doping. Win cleanly and fairly.”

He promised that the government will pay all camp allowances and other entitle­ments due to the athletes before the end of the games.

“I want to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Develop­ment will leave no stone unturned in the implementation of the directives of Mr. President that athletes’ welfare be priori­tized. Let me inform you that all your al­lowances, claims and entitlements due to you will be settled before the close of the Games. Already, af­firmative action has been taken to ensure that your camp allowances are paid. I’m sure you have started to receive alerts.” Ohaa said.

He urged the athletes who are on their way to Rio at about now to note that over 170 million Nigeri­ans would be banking on them to do Nigeria proud.