Olympics: The way forward for Nigeria

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Ogbonyemi Elesho

Introduction

The Olympics is held every four years. It is, therefore, a quadrennial competition. The 2024 Summer Olympics has just been concluded in Paris, the capital of France. Paris, rated among the most beautiful cities in the world, was awarded the Games at the 131st International Olympic Committee, IOC, Session in Lima, Peru, on September 13, 2017. As a result, only Paris and Los Angeles were left to compete after multiple withdrawals. The IOC approved a process to award both cities hosting rights for the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics. Both bids featured technical plans that focused on using a record number of existing or temporary facilities. In its capacity as a former host in 1900 and again in 1924, Paris became the second city to host three Summer Olympic Games, after London, which was hosted in 1908, 1948, and 2012.

While the United States of America, USA, dominated the medals table with 126 medals and Kenya came first among African participants with 11 medals, the Paris 2024 Olympics didn’t produce a Nigerian medalist. Yet, Nigeria invested N12 billion in the games. This, to say the least, was disappointing for the over 200 million citizens of the biggest country in Africa.

A Legacy of Sloppiness

It is often said that whoever fails to plan plans to fail. The situation after the Olympics shows what happens without proper planning. The immediate past Sports Minister, Sunday Dare failed to make early preparations since the last Olympic Games of 2020, and this oversight left athletes ill-prepared for global participation. These administrative oversights and logistical failures are symptoms of a more serious problem within Nigerian sports management circles. The recent incidents of an unregistered sprinter from Nigeria and a bicycle rider who had to borrow equipment were evidence that systemic reforms are necessary.

In addition, the funding and despatch of numerous officials rather than athletes to international events, which have been the tradition for years, is another issue that reared its head. Resources are unnecessarily squandered, and the enthusiasm of the athletes needlessly dampened. They should be seen as receiving the most attention in terms of national investments.

Looking Forward:

There is a rare opportunity for meaningful change with the humility and sense of duty demonstrated by John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Sports Minister. His modesty and willingness to self-reflect are uncommon traits in Nigerian public life. Moreover, he has provided an outline on transforming the various sports federations by ensuring that only qualified people get to hold positions of authority. This transformation drive could herald a new beginning for sports in Nigeria.

Honours from abroad

In Paris 2024, among several disappointments were instances of Nigerians who have attained great heights in other countries like America, UK, Germany, etc. This is one clear evidence that Nigeria has abundant talents but is plagued with structural problems.

Rena Wakama is another positive outcome from the event as she represents Nigeria instead of her home country, the United States, where she was born. She is just 32 and making waves across the world. She chose to serve her fatherland rather than going back to her country of birth because it shows how much top talents from around the globe can be attracted into Nigeria. Importantly Wakama’s achievement should be seen as an urgent call for Nigerian authorities to look at both local and foreign players at a young age starting now.

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents, Annette Echikunwoke represented America and won a silver medal in the hammer throw after being disqualified from representing Nigeria at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020.
Samu Omorodion, who was born in Spain, helped the country win the gold medal in men’s football. Both players are prime examples of how Nigerian talents can have a worldwide influence when given the proper conditions to thrive.

That is not all. Salwa Eid Naser, who was once known as Nigeria’s Ebelechukwu Antoinette Agbapuonwu, excelled for Bahrain as well, taking home a silver medal in the women’s 400-meter race. Naser’s tale is especially moving because, after starting her profession in Nigeria, she moved to Bahrain because of a lack of support. Her accomplishment reminds us of what may have happened if Nigeria had invested more in its athletes.

Germany’s gold medallist in the shot put was Yemisi Ogunleye. Ogunleye, who was born in Omuo-Ekiti to a Nigerian father, won the gold medal for Germany for the first time since 1996. Her success serves as a reminder of the rich reservoir of potential that exists among Nigerians living abroad, talent that Nigeria could have fostered.

It is impossible to exaggerate the significance of creating and sustaining top-notch sports infrastructure. The fact that Nigeria’s Under-23 football team had to practice in Germany in order to compete at the Olympics is shameful. It is imperative that Minister Enoh concentrates on renovating sports facilities. Nigeria needs to make investments in its athletes and infrastructure so they can compete on an equal basis with athletes around the world.

Harnessing Nigerian Talent Globally

To sum up, even though the outcomes of Paris 2024 were disappointing, the experience has forced an important discussion on the future of sports in Nigeria, under the direction of Minister Enoh, with a renewed emphasis on talent development and infrastructure. If anything, there is hope given by the accomplishments of Nigerian athletes on the international front. If government and stakeholders fulfil their commitments and perform their duties well, Nigeria can transform this setback into a chance for long-term success with the correct reforms and a fresh focus on developing talent.

Procrastination is dangerous. Minister Enoh should begin preparations for the next Olympics immediately.

Elesho, a sports enthusiast, is a student of statistics, UNILORIN




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