THE Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has at the ongoing World Travel Market (WTM) in ExCel, Docklands, London, launched a global support campaign for Team Nigeria's Olympics participation, tagged: 'Support Nigeria: 2012 London Olympics.'The campaign, according to the Director General of NTDC, Olusegun Runsewe, is designed to gather at least one million signatories in support of Team Nigeria, adding that it is a new move by the tourism body to draw attention to Nigerian tourism potential and promote sports tourism, among others.A dedicated link has been created at the corporation's website ' www.nigeriatourism.gov.ng, where people all over the world are expected to sign and indicate support for Nigeria, he added.This campaign, Runsewe believes, would spur Team Nigeria to greater height, apart from re-awakening the consciousness of people to Nigeria.The tourism body said it would work closely with the Ministry of Sports and other relevant government agencies and bodies towards the realisation of the campaign goal.He also said the Nigeria High Commission and Nigerian community in the UK would take active part in this new move.Runsewe revealed that plans are to formally launch the campaign in Nigeria as soon as possible, while it would also be launched in other countries and during the FITUR, Madrid, Spain, ITB Berlin and Arabia Travel Market (ATM), all global travel exhibitions that NTDC is hoping to take part in next year.The Guardian recalls that NTDC during the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa also gave huge support to the Super Eagles and also used the occasion to promote Nigeria where it presence at the tourism village created in Johannesburg was adjudged the best.The success of 2010 project, according to Runsewe, is driving the current campaign. Since it may not be possible to build a Nigerian village in London during the Olympics, he said the tourism body thought it wise to do something different and unique in support of the country's participating team.Officials NTDC and other members of the Nigeria delegation at the global travel expo have started soliciting for signatories with Runsewe revealing at the launch that over 60, 000 people have so far indicated support for Team Nigeria just within hours of throwing the campaign open.Present at the launch was the newly posted Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Dr. Ben Ibe, who described the initiative as very excellent and a good move by the tourism body to promote Nigeria.
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