Team Nigeria has emerged as the first African team to qualify for the curling event of the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics.
Nigeria was the only African team that participated in the World Junior B Curling Championship in Finland.
The President of the Nigeria Curling Federation, Daniel Damola confirmed the country’s qualification for both the mixed and mixed doubles events at the competition.
The president congratulates the young athletes as he shares the news and expresses his joy at the opportunity given to Nigerian-based athletes rather than utilising the foreign-based ones in a sport that is less recognised on the continent of Africa.
“Well done, Team Nigeria youth curlers for making history again by becoming the first African Nation to qualify for the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics. We are proud of you all and the boys’ team as well,” Damola said.
“The beautiful thing about the whole success is that we actualised the dream using the locals, the home-based athletes and children from the grassroots.
“This is a life-changing thing for all of them and basically for the country as well. For us to pull out this historic achievement using only home-based youth athletes, the first of its kind in the entire African region. I’m glad and happy.”
The Curling Federation president announced that the qualification ticket for the Games in 2024 will be sent to the Nigeria Olympic Committee in March 2023.
Fresh from their historic performance at the Junior Championships in Lohja, Finland, the young Nigerian curlers are expected to give a good account of themselves at the Youth Winter Olympics when they take on the best teams in the world.
The 2024 Youth Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place in the Gangwon Province in South Korea from January 19 to February 1.
