Bach echoes peace at 2022 Olympic Day Celebration

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel (right); Chairman, Sports For All Commission, Pastor Anthony Oyetayo and Olympiad, Henry Amike, taking part in aerobic session at the Olympic Day Celebration in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: SAMUEL IFETOYE<br />

• Let’s Unite Together To Bring Peace To Nigeria — Gumel

President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Ahmed Gumel, yesterday, at a ceremony to mark this year’s Olympic Day Celebration, joined the rest of the world to call for peace in Nigeria, just as the International Olympics Committee President, Thomas Bach, appealed to member nations to give peace a chance.

Gumel, who spoke at the event to flag off the Celebration held at the National Stadium, Surulere, also highlighted various activities that included, the Olympic Day Run, aerobic exercise, demonstration of sports, and distribution of certificates to participants to mark the occasion.

The NOC president, who read a ‘Message For Olympic Day 2022’ on behalf of the IOC President, said: “When our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olympic Games in 1894, he saw it as a way to promote peace among nations and people.

“Always the visionary, he said: ‘Should the institution of the Olympic Games proper, it can become a potent factor in securing universal peace’.

“Therefore, the purpose of the Olympic Movement was always to promote peace through sport.

“This Olympic Day, when we celebrate the creation of the Olympic Movement, is, therefore, the perfect moment to remind ourselves of this peace mission.”

The message added, “Sports always builds bridges and brings people together in peace and solidarity. In these difficult times we are living through, with conflicts and division on the rise, we need this