Lagos – Edwin Odogwu, Managing Director, Lagos-based Topaz Sport, on Monday said that the company had concluded plans to take Nigerian students to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Odogu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the trip, the first of its kind for primary and secondary students would take place during summer break.
“This is a legitimate trip because we are partnering with the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
“We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NOC and this will help to facilitate the trip.
“Yearly, the museum welcomes no fewer than 20,000 students globally and we want our students to be among them this year,’’ he said.
He said that the visit would be for education, sports, culture and tourism.
“Students will be identified from schools in selected regions and they will participate in a national essay competition on topics relating the Olympics.
“It is from the competition that students will be selected to participate in the first ever Olympic City tour in Switzerland.
“The museum presents thousands of stories that interweave to form our common experience. It helps to relive the great moments that marked the Olympics.
“It gives new life and meaning to its halls by staging regular exhibitions on specific themes,’’ he told NAN.
Odogu said that the tour is aimed at creating an avenue for skilful Nigerian youths to embrace sports through structured educational system of the Olympic Movement.
“To create a platform for interaction among our students where friendship and values are exchanged towards life goals.
“We aim at discovering podium athletes that will be ranked among the world’s best, to see talents ready to combine studies with professional sports.
“Involving youths in positive oriented campaigns in their states, engaging them to build an Olympic culture in Nigeria.
“Promoting healthy lifestyle through sports, education and tourism among our youths. Teaching them social values in the form of staying out of drugs, gangs, violence and prostitution,’’ he said.
On his part, Tunde Popoola, the Secretary-General of NOC, urged schools and parents to use the opportunity to broaden the knowledge of their wards.
Popoola said that Nigeria would be the first African country to organise the Olympic Museum tour for students.
“The NOC will be the first to organise a national essay on education and sports as it relates to Olympism and Olympic Movement.
“We intend connecting no fewer than 12,000 secondary and primary schools to identify with the Olympic movement and its values of excellence, friendship and respect,’’ he said. (NAN)