The Nigerian Olympic Committee Sunday officially announced the list of the country's athletes and officials to the 29th Olympiad starting in Beijing, China on Friday.
Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer of the NOC, told Xinhua that the Nigerian team will comprise 153 members. According to him, breakdown of the list showed that the football teams of male and female players produced the highest number of 44 in addition to six accompanying officials.
He said athletics followed with 25 athletes and eight officials while table tennis has six players and four officials.
Others are weightlifting that has three lifters and three officials; wrestling with two wrestlers and three officials; taekwondo and swimming with two athletes and three officials respectively.
Nezianya said six persons would travel as contingent officials while the medical team would comprise eight members, with seven persons will making up the team's administration. Two persons will also make up the youth camp.
Nigeria's chances at winning medals at the quadrennial event have been subjected to criticism. While some believe that the contestants have been largely inadequately prepared, others feel that the motivation at the Olympics will see them through.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor; Information Minister, John Odey, and Mike Adenuga as the official government delegation to the Olympic Games.
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)