N42M NAIRA RAIN ON SYDNEY OLYMPIC HEROES

N42M NAIRA RAIN ON SYDNEY OLYMPIC HEROES

about 21 hours ago

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday announced cash and national honours award for the six gold medalists in the 4x400m relay at the 2000 Sydney, Australia Olympic Games.

Jonathan announced cash reward of N5 million each for the athletes and N7 million each for the two coaches at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also said that the athletes and their coaches would be decorated with national honours at a later date.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the athletes were decorated with the gold medals by the Nigerian representative in the International Olympic Committee, Mr Abul Gumel.

The athletes, who were rewarded 13 years after the sporting event are; Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Fidelis Gadzama, Aniefiok Udobong, Nduka Awazie and late Sunday Bada, who was represented by his wife, Adesumbo.

The two coaches are, Innocent Egbunike and Solomon Abari.

The silver medals won by the Nigeria's 4x400m relay men at the 2000 games in Sydney was upgraded to gold medal by the International Olympics Committee.

This was due to the disqualification of the USA’s male relay team which initially came first at the event as a result of doping infraction.

Jonathan, who said he was in Sydney for the event as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, congratulated the team for the honour they brought to the country.

He said the team’s victory, 13 years after the event took place, was a confirmation of the saying that ``there is no shortcut to fame.

``For me, I think today, I am as happy as yourself because I was there in Sydney with you as the deputy governor of my State. ------------------------ complete sports