Jonathan to Honour Sydney Olympic Gold Medalists.

2000 Sydney Olympic Gold Medal.
2000 Sydney Olympic Gold Medal.

President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) will today (Wednesday) honour all the other five quarter milers- apart from the late Sunday Bada- who made the country proud at the 2000 Sydney Olympic, winning the 4×400m relay at the Presidential Villa.

Sources close to the presidency have disclosed to Thisday that the meeting with the president has been scheduled to hold before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at 9am.

Team Nigeria’s silver medal at the event turned gold, following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify USA as a result of the dope infraction of Antonio Pettigrew.

Bada’s widow, Olasumbo, represents her husband who died on December 12, 2011. She joins United States of America-based Jude Monye, Clement Chuckwu, Nduka Awazie, Fidelis Gadzama (UK-based) and Enefiok Udo-Obong (Lagos-based) to physically be honoured by the president.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) facilitated the coming of the Olympic heroes to Nigeria to meet with President Goodluck.

Former captain of Team Nigeria, Mary Omagbemi-Onyali told Thisday on Tuesday that she was very impressed with the decision to host the team 13 years after they brought honour to Nigeria.

“This is very commendable of President Goodluck Jonathan, His decision to meet and honour the Sydney gold medalists has given hope to other sports that it is not only footballers that have the exclusive eyes and years of those in authority. This singular honour will motivate other sports to also want to win glories for Nigeria,” she observed.

She was however sad that Bada, who captained Team Nigeria to the Sydney Games, was not physically present to receive his honour from the president.

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