President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday announced cash and national honours award for the six gold medalists in the 4x400m relay at the 2000 Sydney, Australia Olympic Games.
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Jonathan announced cash reward of N5 million each for the athletes and N7 million each for the two coaches at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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He also said that the athletes and their coaches would be decorated with national honours at a later date.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the athletes were decorated with the gold medals by the Nigerian representative in the International Olympic Committee, Mr Abul Gumel.
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The athletes, who were rewarded 13 years after the sporting event are; Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Fidelis Gadzama, Aniefiok Udobong, Nduka Awazie and late Sunday Bada, who was represented by his wife, Adesumbo.
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The two coaches are, Innocent Egbunike and Solomon Abari.
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The silver medals won by the Nigeria's 4x400m relay men at the 2000 games in Sydney was upgraded to gold medal by the International Olympics Committee.
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This was due to the disqualification of the USA's male relay team which initially came first at the event as a result of doping infraction.
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Jonathan, who said he was in Sydney for the event as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, congratulated the team for the honour they brought to the country.
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He said the team's victory, 13 years after the event took place, was a confirmation of the saying that ``there is no shortcut to fame.
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``For me, I think today, I am as happy as yourself because I was there in Sydney with you as the deputy governor of my State.