Nigeria and the Rio Olympics

Nigeria and the Rio Olympics
— 31st July 2016
AS the nation’s representatives warm up for this year’s Olym­pics, which kicks off on August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we urge them to win laurels. The Rio Games will end on August 21 while the Paralympic Games is scheduled to hold from September 7 to 18.

As part of the preparations for the global sporting fiesta, the Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has been named the captain of Team Nigeria to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Also, the 40-year-old table tennis star, Funke Os­honaike, who will be making her sixth appearance at the games after her debut at Atlanta ’96, was named the assistant team captain.

Mikel Obi, one of the three over­age players in the national U-23 football team for the games, will be making his debut appearance at the Olympic Games. We re­call that Mikel reportedly turned down the opportunity to be part of the football squad which lost to Argen­tina in the finals at the Beijing 2008 Games.

Mikel and Oshonaike were reportedly chosen to lead Team Nigeria because of their consistency, patriotism and dedication to national assign­ments. According to Nigeria’s Chef-de-Mission at the games, Christian Ohaa, Mike is a young, patriotic footballer of international status and will likely be a role model to upcoming athletes while Oshonaike is experi­enced and one of the oldest athletes in the team.

The handlers of Team Nigeria believe that the combined efforts of the duo will likely bring goodwill to the team and project the country’s image positively to the world. We recall that Team Nigeria was led to the Lon­don 2012 edition of the games by Beijing 2008 Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije and assisted by another Beijing bronze medalist, Blessing Okagbare.

In a related development, the national U-23 squad has been charged by the Acting Consul General, Consulate of Nigeria, Atlanta, Mr. Olu Fa­lomo, to exhibit the Nigerian spirit so as to reclaim the Olympic football gold and make Nigeria proud again. Also, the Nigeria Olympic Commit­tee (NOC) Medical and Scientific commission has released guidelines on how to avoid contracting the deadly Zika virus to sports fans travelling to Brazil for the Olympic Games.

Despite inadequate preparations for the Rio Games, we enjoin our sports ambassadors to unleash the can-do Nigerian spirit and win lau­rels for the fatherland. After the great success achieved by Team Nigeria in Atlanta ’96, we have not done well in subsequent competitions. In the London Olympics four years ago, we did not win even a medal.

We have witnessed a drastic decline in sports in recent times. Govern­ment’s neglect of sports has not helped matters. Most of our athletes are on their own in terms of training and exposure to the games. Our prepa­rations have been everything but adequate. The fire brigade or ad hoc approach to sports should be blamed for our lacklustre performance at international sports events.

We enjoin our representatives to do their best and aim to win. Let the desire to make our countrymen and women proud inspire them to do well at the games. They should not replicate the appalling record at the Lon­don games. Let them remain steadfast and focused and avoid all manner of scandals, inc