26 August 2008
editorial
Lagos — Many Nigerians believed Team Nigeria would return from the glittering Beijing Olympics with the eight gold medals President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had asked them to bring.
Why not? Our sports managers, who advised him would have been sure about the strength of the team. The fact that not even a single gold was won by one of the continental giants in sports calls for sober reflection and quick, recovery programmes. In many countries, preparations for the next Olympic Games start as the torch of the last Games is extinguished.
This is not to ignore the men and women behind the modest achievements of the country at the Games. The nation owes gratitude to Damilola Osayomi, Africa's fastest woman, and her team who stretched themselves to the limits to enlist Nigeria on the medal table when they took third in the 4x100 Relay. Also, Blessing Okagbare who eventually picked bronze in Long Jump (Women). To also demonstrate that victory is attainable even in the midst of underachievement, Chika Chukwumerije placed third in Taekwondo after beating the defending champion at the quarter finals.
To football loving Nigerians, more relief came by way of the silver medal won by Dream Team IV, after a titanic encounter with Argentina at the finals. Although Nigerians had enough cause to expect gold from their number one sport, the performance of the Samson Siasia- led team should be commended.
While rewarding the deserving sportsmen and women, putting the sad profile of our sports in proper perspective is inevitable at this point. Nigeria must rise above mediocrity and take its rightful place among sporting countries.
It is shameful, considering Nigeria's robust potentialities that it participated only in 10 events, namely soccer, swimming, taekwondo, badminton, track and field, boxing, judo, wrestling, weightlifting and table tennis. And that it did so without stamping its presence and authority when it really mattered most, calls to question the integrity of sports administration in the country.
Several months to the Olympics, public discourse was saturated with the poor preparations for the world's flagship sports festival and the attendant low morale amongst the China-bound athletes. Yet, not much recovery efforts were made to restore the confidence of many members of Team Nigeria.
A glaring case was that of the boxing team, which never got the required training/warm up tours until it was rushed to Korea at the last minute.
We failed to learn from experience that clearly favours hardwork and dedication over underserved miracles. This unfortunate attitude often finds expression in the way athletes are treated by their respective associations. In some cases, brilliant sports men and women adopt other nationalities in their quest for self actualisation. Some of them even brought glories to their adoptive countries at the Olympics. But, for how long will Nigeria's loss remain others' gain? A major challenge before the sports authorities, therefore, is to create a conducive atmosphere for talented Nigerians train to excel and contribute meaningfully to the nation's much needed positive international image. The magic for success in sporting competitions is practice or training.
On their part, the athletes, particularly those left out of the medals roll call, should emulate their successful compatriots and counterparts across the world. United States' Michael Phelps, now the greatest Olympian ever after winning eight gold medals, and Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt who set three world records all in Beijing, are living testimonies to the possibility of achieving triumph in the face of tough challenges.
With the right leadership in sports, sufficient and steady support from the private sector and total athlete commitment, Nigeria can indeed find its way from the bottom to join those at the top.
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