The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has unveiled Wakanow as the country’s sole authorised Rio 2016 Olympic Games ticket reseller.
The summer games is scheduled to hold between August 5 and 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to the NOC, tour and hospitality services provider, Wakanow, has the sole right to sell tickets and also arrange easy passage for Nigerians to the Games.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos yesterday, NOC President, Habu Gumel, said that the partnership with Wakanow was part of the committee’s programmes to ensure that Nigerians get easy access to the tickets and other logistics connected with the games.
He said the Committee’s decision to reappoint Wakanow as authorised ticket provider for Rio 2016 followed the company’s good performance at the last Games at London 2012.
Gummel who was represented by NOC Secretary General, Tunde Popoola, said the pact with Wakanow would enhance Nigeria’s participation at the 2016 Olympics because the company has the resources to move our fans to all the venues to support Team Nigeria.
“We had the same partnership in 2012 and we are happy that we have a partner that believes that the NOC should be bigger and better than it is. We need to thank the company for contributing to the rebranding of the NOC. The IOC is aware of our partnership with Wakanow,” he said.
Wakanow’s Managing Director, Obinna Ekezie, said his firm has acquired the experience to do better than it did at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup, which incidentally was held in Brazil.
“We are keen in this partnership because we have very hardworking and knowledgeable people manning the NOC.
“We have over 30 outlets across the country where people can go to access the tickets and key into our packages for the Olympics. We are working closely with the airlines to take care of the difficulty with connectivity in Brazil.
“We are also looking at ways to provide affordable fares and other logistics for Nigerians going to Brazil, but we advise interested parties to book their package on time so that we can start processing their documents.”
Ekezie a former NBA star revealed that Wakanow has created a platform that would afford those who want to pay in installment to do so, adding, however, that there are terms and conditions for booking a trip to the games through his company.
“We cannot take more people than we can handle, but we assure everybody that book his ticket on time that he will have an easy passage to the games. You cannot come a week before the games to ask us to include your name in our programme.
“We have set dates when people must have paid their money to allow us secure visas, accommodation and book flights for them. Already, we have our support staff who will be going to Brazil in a few weeks to start preparing for our clients arrival for the games,” concludes the Wakanow boss.
