French Ambassador fetes Nigerian cyclists as they head to World Cycling Championship
Newly-appointed French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mme Emmanuelle Blatmann has congratulated Nigeria’s representatives to the 11th World Track Cycling Championship for making history by being among the two African countries to qualify for the event holding at the Jean Stablinski regional Indoor Velodrome in Roubaix, France from October 20-24, 2021.
Hosting the four cyclists as well as the Cycling Federation president and Secretary-General, Engr. Giadomenico Massari and Makpa Shammah respectively in her official residence in Abuja on Saturday, the Ambassador said their qualification which was their first time ever, “shows the rise of the sport in the country and the enthusiasm it generates among the youth and with improved active women participation”.
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“This is a monumental event as it is the first time in its history Nigeria has qualified for the World Cycling Championship, of which only two African countries (Nigeria and Egypt) in Africa have qualified to participate”, she said.
Media Attache to the French Embassy, Onyinye Madu said that though the Ambassador couldn’t meet with the cyclists and CFN delegation as “she was currently in isolation having just arrived in Nigeria last week, she was represented by the Deputy Ambassador, Mr Olivier Chatelias and other delegates”.
According to Madu, the Ambassador “sent words of encouragement to let the girls know that she was proud to welcome these talented sportswomen and she wishes them good luck for the event (and) hopes they will climb the steps of the podium”.
While Egypt is being represented by one cyclist, Nigeria will be represented by four namely Grace Ayuba, Tawakalt Yekeen, Ese Ukpeseraye, and Mary Samuel.