What Does Nigeria Really Want At Olympics?
BY RAYMOND NWADUBA
- Until Nigeria identifies and makes clear their vision and mission at the Olympics, the country will continue to go in circle. In other words, the quadrennial games will just be another ritual where they go to complete the numbers.
But fortunately, the Olympics is the gathering of the world’s best in different sport and there’s no room for mediocrity. Countries that win medals or hopes to win medals don’t joke around. They begin the plan well ahead of time. Therefore, whatever success story you find there is not by accident; but a product of careful and deliberate planning.
The years Nigeria did well at the Olympics are those times when the structures were still functional. Training compensations and the athlete’s welfare were still paramount, but not anymore. A lot of water has passed under the bridge. There’s no point for us to keep deceiving ourselves.
The plain truth is that most of the Sports Federations in the country are either sick financially or are enmeshed in one quagmire or the other. This has had adverse and retarding effects on sports and its development whether we acknowledge it or not.
A more holistic and comprehensive approach or strategies has to be deployed to reposition sports generally in the country. A quick fix methodology will not yield any lasting solution as has always been the case. We need to get to the root causes of these problems and nib them right in the bud.
What are those things that has worked for us in the past which we have jettisoned and then still expect miracles to happen.
There is also the need to pay closer and more attention to sports such as Boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, athletics and football which we have comparative advantage and has given us medal in the past. - As a country we must play huge roles in the development and progress of our athletes and not wait till they win medals to celebrate and reward them. To produce Olympic champion is not an easy feat, therefore the country really need to do more, if Nigeria wish to better her fortunes going forward.
- Again more technocrats and professionals has to be brought on board in our sports rather than leave it in the hands of politicians who are only out for their own selfish interest.
