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Tag: Olympics

  • 2028 Olympics: Athlete urges early preparation

    2028 Olympics: Athlete urges early preparation

    An athlete, Michael Godwin has called for early preparation for Nigerian athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, U.S.

    Godwin, who made the call in an interview with NAN on Monday in Lagos State, stressed that early preparations would enhance the athletes` performances and place them in a better position for podium finishing at the Olympics.

    The athlete said that Team Nigeria failed to win medals at the Paris Games because they did not prepare well ahead of the tournament.

    Godwin, who has been an athlete for about four years, said that it was possible for athletes to engage in other jobs to make ends meet.

    He said that the country’s athletes did not perform well at the Olympics because they did not have adequate training ahead of the Olympics.

    ”If their training was planned considering wellbeing and related factors, they would have done better than the results they had,“he said.

    In spite of the N12 billion approved by the Federal Government, the athletes failed to win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

    88 athletes were on parade for Nigeria in 12 sports in Paris, the largest Nigeria has ever presented at the Olympics.

  • Poland submits bid to host 2040 Olympics

    Poland submits bid to host 2040 Olympics

    Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that Poland will officially bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2040 or 2044.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that Poland will officially bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2040 or 2044.

    This decision is dedicated to the younger generation, with the aim of bringing the prestigious event to Poland for the first time. While President Andrzej Duda had previously expressed interest in hosting the Olympics in 2036, Tusk’s announcement sets a more realistic target of 2040 or 2044, considering the International Olympic Committee’s decisions and commitments.

    Poland has experience in co-hosting major international events, such as the European football Championship in 2012 with Ukraine and the European Games in 2023, but this would be its first time hosting the Olympics.

    This decision is dedicated to the younger generation, with the aim of bringing the prestigious event to Poland for the first time.

    While President Andrzej Duda had previously expressed interest in hosting the Olympics in 2036, Tusk’s announcement sets a more realistic target of 2040 or 2044, considering the International Olympic Committee’s decisions and commitments.

    Poland has experience in co-hosting major international events, such as the European football Championship in 2012 with Ukraine and the European Games in 2023, but this would be its first time hosting the Olympics.

  • 2024 Olympics: Nigeria’s sports as circumstantial ceremonies – By Ikeddy Isiguzo

    2024 Olympics: Nigeria’s sports as circumstantial ceremonies – By Ikeddy Isiguzo

    By Ikeddy Isiguzo

    MOSES Ugbisien, winner of a 4x400m bronze medal in athletics, 40 years ago at the Los Angeles Olympics, called thrice recently. Two of the calls were in the course of the Olympic Games in Paris. Expectedly they were about Nigeria participating in the Olympic Games as circumstantial ceremonies.

    Complaints are legion. Comments have been driven by what we know about the medalless contingent. In most cases, our premises are cast on assumptions, wrong assumptions.

    Money, the way we spend it, cannot win medals. The anger about an expenditure of N12 billion on Paris 2024 is grossly misplaced. The approval of the money was noisily celebrated on Thursday 18 July 2024 when the opening ceremony of the Games was only eight days away!

    Hopes were high that the approved budget would be released quickly, and more importantly, fully. I do not know if “quickly” and “fully” were achieved. What exactly was the money meant to do?

    Pay allowances? Pay outstanding debts? Motivate the athletes eight days to the Games? Buy air tickets?

    When was money for training and other preparations for the Games released? We do not know. Even with the belated release of the money, the tradition is to thank the President for his benevolence to sports and make promises to do better than the Games of Atlanta, 28 years ago, when Nigeria won 2 gold, 1 silver, and three bronze medals, Nigeria’s best Olympics to date.

    This did not start with the 2024 Olympics. There is hardly a clear path to how we win medals at the Games. It will not stop with Paris 2024 unless Nigeria does something drastic and immediate to rescue the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

    Money is not the major issue. If the Ministry of Sports Development gets N40 billion today for the 2028, it is not a guarantee that we would win a medal. There are no structures to run sports in the professional manners that elite athletes billed for the Olympics demand.

    Competence in limited dosages along the Olympic production lines has compromised the preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics. Outright lies should not be central to the future.

    Whoever said that preparations for the 2028 Games had started knew that it was not true. Those immersed in the best global practices for these things would take a few weeks off to recover from the tensions the Games are. They are organised and light years ahead of the remedies that are being prescribed for Nigeria.

    They would hold appraisal meetings. They would audit their post-Olympic assets – athletes, officials, partners, governance issues, and resolve them. Deficits in all areas would be treated and the areas of strengths are enhanced.

    Competitions from 2024 to 2032 would be diarised and aligned to the programmes of the various federations, and budgeted right to the very base of the programmes for different competitions and qualifiers that lead to different engagements.

    Some top performers have retired with Paris 2024. Replacements have to be groomed from a pool of performers who are below  those leaving. Provisions have to be made for injuries, ageing, loss of interest, doping challenges, grading of the athletes based on performances for training grants, rewards and a lot more.

    The pool of athletes for 2028 should be from athletes who have been to the Olympics, top events like the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games with consistent results that when benchmarked against global athletes in that event have our athletes within the top 15, for starts. We should progress to top 8, and top 6 before the Olympics.

    Criteria for the set immediately below the top group would be stated. They would be the top group for 2028, but already part of the Olympic team for 2032 and beyond.

    Olympic Games are not circumstantial ceremonies that can be accomplished on a four-year cycle with filmsy utterance as “we have started preparations for Los Angeles”.

    Nigeria sports officials would spend the rest of 2024 and well into 2025 fighting for positions in the sports federations. They are full-blown opportunities to step into opportunities that sports breed. We call them elections. They are essential meal tickets for most officials who barely know anything about their sports, except maybe the next trips and what allowances they will bring.

    When we are through with the elections, we lose time, fragment the little cohesion the federations have and attend the next Games, usually with a worse management than was in Paris that produced no medals.

    Elsewhere, most elected their federations, including their National Olympic Committees before Paris 2024. The end of the Games also mark a new beginning even where the officials were re-elected.

    Back to the calls with Ugbisien, we joked about the $12,000 scholarship he has been owed since the spectacular victory in the 4×400m relay that keep spectators at Kasarani Stadium, outside Nairobi, on their feet. It qas the 1987 All-Africa Games. Remarkably, Nigeria won all the athletic relay events in Nairobi.

    Innocent Egbunike had won the 400m with a Games record, 44.23 seconds. The Kenyan David Kitur was second and Ugbisien was third.

    Kitur was up against Egbunike in the last legvof the relay. He indulged Kitur who led the race. Kenyans were screaming. From the 300 metres, Egbunike started closing up, and outran Kitur for the gold.

    Daniel arap Moi, Kenyan President told Egbunike during the medal ceremony, “This Innocent is not innocent”. Nigeria had a high volume of athletes to choose from then.

    A year after, Nigeria returned from the Olympics in Seoul without any medals. The most remarkable thing about Seoul was that the luggage of the contingent, on the return trip, was so large that it could not fit into the aircraft. It arrived by ship almost two months after the Olympics.

    We have learnt nothing ever since. How did we win three silver medals four years after in Seoul and the best performance in Atlanta?

    The remnants of Seoul, and athletes who had matured from the American school system, helped. The sports programmes at home were stronger and also had funding, administrations was better than today.

    A lot needs to be done. A National Sports Commission, NSC, which would have  stability through its enabling Act, protected from political interference, shielded from the sluggish bureaucracy of the Ministry, will be the lead to the best direction.

    Maybe a look at the management structure of the Ministry will show how unsuitable it is for sports development and management. The Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer is the Permanent Secretary. At best, he is a sports enthusiast who has been thrown to the vortex of sports management. He is not excluded from the regular shuffle of top civil servants.

    He may not be able to complete his reports on the Paris Olympics before he is posted to another Ministry. The Minister could be similarly changed. The process continues.

    The NSC will aggregate our sports assets, manage them with a rolling plan that would integrate the various top global events that culminate in the Olympic Games. It would  employ staff who have the skills and experience to manage sports on more engaging and sustainable bases.

    What we have with the Ministry are civil servants who take decisions for sports without adequate knowledge of what they manage. Sports management is blighted by lack of competence which in turn drives gross mis-management that affect the federations with the Nigeria Okympic Committee at the apex of the obtuse arrangement.

    There are no plans to work with schools, clubs, communities, and several initiatives that can harness thousands of young Nigerians aspiring to be athletes across different sports. Whether they become elite athletes or not, opportunities abound for them to get sports scholarships and benefit from great education. NSC will do these and more.

    Money for sustainable preparation for our athletes, officials, coaches, doctors, masseuses, psychologists, and other managers will be billions of Naira that the National Lottery Commission, partners, and sponors will provide. There is no structure today for such robust attention to sports management and development.

    We need a body that will employ people with the skill sets for sports development. They can manage resources sports generate for the benefit of sports and Nigerian public.

    Britain in 1996 finished 36th on the medals table, four notches below Nigeria’s 2 gold medals. It was the worst British finishing since 1952. Prime Minister Tony Blair was not just embarrassed but he created UK Sports which distributed resources that UK Lottery provided to sports councils, schools, clubs and community sports centres for the continuous production of athletes.

    Elite athletes were graded and their training funded. More scientific approaches were included. UK Sports did not kill the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK’s equivalent of our Ministry of Spirts Development.

    Britain has prospered ever since. The availability of lottery funding gave bite to long term planning, research and training of athletes and officials. Projections of Britain’s finishing as hosts of London 2012 were between sixth and eighth position. Britain won 29 gold medals and were third on the medals table, 16 years after the Atlanta disaster and everyone, including Russia, attended.

    Nigeria won zero medals at the London Olympics.

    Nigeria can lean on the disaster of Paris to set up the NSC. The future is infested with futility and acrimonies without NSC.

    We cannot run sports without anyone to hold responsible. Not even someone to ask what happened to Moses’ $12,000.

    The current situation approximates to elevated confusions.

    Finally…

    THOSE who criticise the number of aircraft in the presidential fleet should change their mind after three of the President’s jets were seized by a Chinese firm, acting on court orders in Paris. Was the President’s three-day visit to Equatorial Guinea hampered? Have you wondered what would have happened if the President was in the seized plane or got to the airport and was locked out of his plane? The Chinese firm has graciously released one of the planes, the Airbus, to, it says, enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend a meeting in France next week with the French President. Hopefully, the size of the Airbus does not indicate the number of those heading to France with the President.

    WAS spicing a $500m investment forum with a porno video the latest in Nigeria being among the world’s best investment destinations? Even if we want to go through that route, a lot of work needs to be done for us to come anywhere close to the world’s best.

    OUR governments must be more serious with keeping to terms of contracts whether with Nigeria or foreign organisations. Ogun State which got into the $81.72 million judgement jam with the Chinese firm has nothing to yield a fraction of that sum. Nigerians are bearing the brunt of the Federal Government implementation of an agreement that Ogun State government needed nobody’s permission to breach.

    ALL those who the Ministry of Sports owes any money, any unredeemed promises, should use the opportunities of the informal inquest on Nigeria at the 2024 Olympics to tell us. If you send the evidence to ikeddyisiguzo@hotmail.com, I will published them.

    Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

  • Global Champions: How Nigerian – born athletes won laurels for adopted countries at Paris 2024 Olympics

    Global Champions: How Nigerian – born athletes won laurels for adopted countries at Paris 2024 Olympics

    Many Nigerian born athletes won laurels for adopted countries at the just concluded 2024 Paris Olympics games.

    These Nigerians in diaspora  showcased strength, resilience, and talent of individuals with  who have made their mark on the global stage, contributing to the glory of their adopted countries.

    This diverse group of athletes spans various disciplines, showcasing the rich athletic heritage they carry from Nigeria to the world.

     

    Athletics: A Ground of Champions

     

    Athletics remains a prominent field for these athletes. Representing Bahrain, Kemi Adekoya continued her impressive career, while Yemisi Ogunleye brought honour to Germany, capturing a gold medal.

    The USA boasted a strong contingent with Annette Echikunwoke (silver), Keturah Orji, and Bam Adebayo (gold in basketball) showcasing their prowess.

     

    The UK also had  significant representation with Yemi Mary John (bronze), Victoria Ohuruogu (bronze), Lawrence Okoye, Tade Ojora, and Eva Okaro (swimming). Additionally, Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, formerly known as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu, secured a silver medal, adding to the list of commendable performances.

     

    Italy had a  share of excellence with Omoruyi O Loveth (gold in volleyball), Eseosa F Desalu, and Chituru Ali, while Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke and Belgium’s Michael Obasuyi who demonstrated their remarkable abilities. Canada’s Duan Asemota and France’s Michael Olise (silver in football) were  also part of this elite group.

     

    Basketball and Volleyball: Dominating Team Sports

     

    In basketball, Bam Adebayo and Chiaka Ogbogu from the USA, Ezi Magbegor from Australia, and Natalie Achonwa from Canada showcased their skills on the court. Giannis Adetokunbo, better known as Giannis Antetokounmpo, stood tall for Greece, bringing his extraordinary talent to the fore.

     

    Volleyball saw the prowess of Chiaka Ogbogu (USA, silver), Omoruyi O Loveth (Italy, gold), and Paola Egonu (Italy, gold).

    France’s Chinenyeze Barthelemy added to this list with a gold medal, exemplifying the dominance of Nigerian-rooted athletes in team sports.

     

    Football: A New Generation of Stars

     

    Football, the world’s most beloved sport, was not left out. Spain’s Samu Omorodion (gold) and France’s Michael Olise (silver) highlighted the talent emerging from Nigerian roots, contributing significantly to their teams’ success.

     

    Swimming: Breaking New Ground

     

    In swimming, Germany’s Melvin Imodu and the UK’s Eva Okaro  broke barriers, representing the growing influence of athletes of Nigerian descent in this aquatic discipline.

     

    The Global Impact of Nigerian Heritage

     

    This list of athletes with Nigerian roots reflects the far-reaching impact of Nigerian heritage on the world stage.

    Their success stories are not just a testament to their individual talents but also to the rich cultural and athletic heritage they carry with them.

    These athletes embody the spirit of perseverance, excellence, and dedication, proving that no matter where they compete, their Nigerian roots remain a source of pride and inspiration.

     

    The just ended  Paris 2024 Olympics thus became a celebration not just of global unity and competition but also of the diverse and powerful legacy that Nigerian athletes bring to the world.

  • From Olympics to telecoms, the world brooks no tardiness – By Okoh Aihe

    From Olympics to telecoms, the world brooks no tardiness – By Okoh Aihe

    The 2024 Paris Olympics Games ended on Sunday in a blaze of glory. The French gave their elevated understanding of beauty and creativity while Hollywood gave a little snippet of what awaits the world in Los Angeles in four years’ time.

    The Olympics wasn’t just about games, it was about doggedness and discipline, it was about the capacity of humanity to push the body beyond human elasticity and achieve results beyond the attainment of ordinary humans, it was about people who wanted to put their names in the stars and affect human memory ever after.

    Nigerians are aghast that no athlete from the Nigerian team made it to the podium, after N12bn spent on just over 80 of them, belatedly. Some Nigerians did though, they came with the rest of the world where their talents were oiled for success. It would have been a major testimony if we won a medal, just any medal. The journey  of failure remains the superstructure of our daily existence, especially at the level of governance.

    All the while, watching the Nigerian contingent in Paris reminded me of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, not because of the sprint master, Usain Bolt or the American swimmer that enjoys water more than fish, Michael Phelps, but because of a peculiar Nigerian story which ace sports journalist, Onochie Anibeze, we fondly call coach, shared with us.

    According to the story, it was time for Nigeria to do a particular race and organisers were calling former Nigerian sprinter, Innocent Egbunike, to come and prepare his team. Unfortunately, Egbunike came with the American contingent, not Nigeria’s and therefore would not be able to do anything for Nigeria at the time. We just needed somebody to organise them, the organisers informed, because they will get on the field and won’t have their things properly put together, their jerseys may not be of the same colour. Several Olympics later – London, Rio, Tokyo and now Paris, Nigeria has hit the nadir of sports failure. We hardly disappoint the world.

    Not only that, there is something about Nigeria which gives the impression that the world must wait for us to get up and get going. And because the world has no room for tardiness, even very small countries like Saint Lucia with a population of 186, 856 and Botswana, a population of 2, 719, 694, have sprinted ahead of the self-acclaimed giant of Africa that used to dominate in sprint, boxing, weightlifting and football. Nigeria’s population is presently guesstimated at 232, 679, 478. Yes. In everything, we guess. In everything, we joke.

    Thank God for D’Tigress and Coach Rena Wakama, the country’s memory at the Olympics would nearly have been obliterated!

    Paris only provided a global screen for the world to look at our tardiness as a nation. There are things happening in order sectors, that viewed collectively, will nearly run us to the conclusion that this country ain’t going anywhere yet.

    At the same time that the Olympics was in full swing in Paris, some Nigerian officials were meeting with representatives of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Abuja. That meeting would have gone unnoticed but for some very little news that filtered out of the meeting location at Mbora in the Federal Capital Territory.

    While Nigeria was previously seen as a gold fish in providing regulatory standards for the global community, a new study by the ITU which was presented at the meeting, points to the contrary, requesting the Nigerian government to provide clarity in whom the international community and businesses should deal with because of regulatory overlaps of agencies that seem to be functioning in the same sector.

    Some of the agencies identified in the document include but not limted to: Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC) and National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

    The study, Collaborative regulation: Accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, was to help Nigeria prepare for the next phase of growth in the fast expanding digital ecosystem. All of a sudden, a country that used to receive high level invitations to speak at international conferences concerning the exponential growth of its telecommunications industry, has come under the radar, needing help, obviously.

    “For over twenty years, ITU and our partners in the wilder global regulatory community have made enormous progress in analysing, mapping and understanding the evolving role that regulation plays in society and in economies. Through this effort, we now have a clear-eyed view of the path ahead for all countries, no matter where they are, in their journey towards fifth generation collaborative digital regulation, or G5, that has emerged as the gold standard for regulators and policy makers seeking to promote an enabling environment for digital transformation. The G5 framework marks a shift of scope beyond a narrow consideration of telecommunications/ICT to a far broader one of each country’s readiness to exploit a fully enabled digital economy and society,” said Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunications Bureau (BDG), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as he explained some of the activities of his organisation.

    The study points out some level of unwieldiness and contradictions in the entire ecosystem that need to be addressed urgently if Nigeria is to rise beyond the level of old glory to attain new heights.

    The study also observes that “there is currently a proposed NITDA Amendment Bill (2022), which is expected to repeal the 2007 Act. An overriding objective of the NITDA Amendment Bill is “to create an effective, impartial, an independent regulatory framework for the development of the Nigerian information technology sector and support the develoment of the digital economy” including through promoting access, research, consumer protection, and innovation, amongst others.

    In proposing a clear approach towards G5 regulation, the study suggests that “the institutional frameworks should support role clarity, policy coherence, and lean governance. While responsibility for digital transformation at the federal level is shared between the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy agencies (such as NCC, NBC and NITDA), there are a large number of other government agencies that impact digital transformation and e-government implementation, which leads to issues of responsibility overlaps and ineffective coordination. In instances where there are overlaps, gaps or lack of clarity, as in the case of NCC and NITDA, there is a need to clarify uncertainty, take steps to reduce forum shopping, and address ineffective policy implementation,” the document stated.

    Interestingly, the study predates the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2024, introduced by current minister of the Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani. The Bill is described as an Act to enable the growth of  Digital Economy and digital governance in Nigeria.

    Under the APC administration, two Bills have been introduced into the digital ecosystem, the NITDA Amendent Act 2022 by Isah Pantami and the recent one by his successor. They must have their reason that concentrates efforts on Bill making to harvest the fortunes of what seems a ready made industry. That is what they call low hanging fruits.

    Beyond the superficial good intentions are the subterranean plans that polarise the agencies and industry and make them easy targets for a ministry and supervising ministers whose intentions are difficult to justify. The Bills seek to whittle down the regulatory powers of existing agencies and subordinate them to the whims of new laws being dressed up at the National Assembly. Bosun’s National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, actually suggests that only the Nigerian constitution will take precedence over the Bill when passed. Were the National Assembly to go beyond superficiality, they will throw the Bills away, or at best, hammer them into shapes that will enable them function justifiably in their respective fields.

    Without doubt there is growing confusion in a sector that was examplary in the past. The ITU which promoted Nigeria as a model of good regulatory jurisdiction, has, in the study, asked the Nigerian government to make intervention that can restore the industry back to its glory days and position it for the digital opportunities ahead.

  • Olympics: US topples China to finish overall winner, Kenya finishes as best African country

    Olympics: US topples China to finish overall winner, Kenya finishes as best African country

    The USA clinched victory at the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris on Sunday, narrowly topping the 2024 Olympics medal table. They secured 40 gold medals, edging out China by winning more silver medals—44 compared to China’s 27. Both nations had 40 golds, but China fell short with only 27 silvers.

     

    The last time a team other than the US topped the standings was in 2008, when China led on home soil in Beijing.

     

    The US women’s basketball team’s victory over hosts France to win the final gold medal of the Games helped secure the Americans’ dominance. Overall, the USA won the most medals, with 126 total (40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze), compared to China’s 91 (40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze).

     

    Japan ranked third with 20 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze medals, totaling 45. Australia came in fourth with 18 gold, 19 silver, and 16 bronze, totaling 53. Hosts France were fifth with 16 gold, 26 silver, and 22 bronze medals, totaling 64.

     

    Only 12 African countries made it to the medal table. Kenya led the African nations, finishing 17th overall with four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals, totaling 11. Other African countries included Algeria, joint 39th with two gold and one bronze; South Africa, joint 44th with one gold, three silver, and two bronze; and Ethiopia, 47th with one gold and three silver medals.

     

    Egypt and Tunisia were joint 52nd, each with one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Botswana and Uganda were joint 55th, each with one gold and one silver. Morocco placed 60th with one gold and one bronze. Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, and Zambia each secured one bronze, placing them jointly in 84th.

     

    Nigeria did not make the medal table in the 2024 Olympics, which saw participation from 205 countries.

     

    The next edition of the Olympics is scheduled for 2028 in Los Angeles, USA.

  • Nigeria and the Symbolism of the Paris Olympics – By Dakuku Peterside

    Nigeria and the Symbolism of the Paris Olympics – By Dakuku Peterside

    Nations, diplomacy, and sports are interwoven. Sports persons and sports teams are, in a sense, representatives of and mirrors of their countries. It is no coincidence that most great nations are also leading sporting countries  because it is a significant tool of soft power projection. Nations demonstrate their might either through ‘Fight’ or ‘play’. The latter is the province of international sporting events like the Olympics.

    Sporting competitions, particularly at the elite level, have often been likened to modern-day wars. This metaphor draws on the intense rivalry, nationalistic fervour, and strategic and physical battles that characterize sports and warfare. However, unlike actual wars, which involve devastating loss of life and destruction, sports provide a controlled environment for channelling competitive instincts and resolving conflicts through non-violent means. Little wonder the famous author Goerge Orwell posits, “serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules, and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words, it is war minus the shooting.” Modern states are not expected to wage war against each other for the fun of it or just sheer dominance; the only arena of legitimate dominance that elicits nationalism and patriotic fervour is international sports.

    Like wars, sporting events, especially international competitions like the Olympics, become arenas where national pride and identity are fiercely defended and displayed. Athletes are often seen as warriors representing their nations, carrying the hopes and aspirations of their people. The victories and defeats in these arenas are celebrated or mourned, almost like battles won or lost on a battlefield. The spectacle of countries competing against each other in these global events can evoke strong emotions, much like the nationalism that fuels wars. Preparing for high-level sports competitions mirrors the strategic planning  capabilities seen in military campaigns. Coaches and athletes meticulously study their opponents, devise game plans, and adapt their strategies as the competition unfolds. This aspect of sports is comparable to the strategy  and tactics employed in warfare, where intelligence, preparation, and adaptability often determine the outcome. The intense focus on outmanoeuvring and outthinking the opponent in sports can be seen as a simulation of the strategic elements of warfare.

    The Olympics are the highest arenas of sporting glory, where sporting artistry, creativity and skills are showcased to a global audience for fame, glory, prominence and recognition. Whatever happens there mirrors the relative might and priorities of the state. It significantly reflects the economic status of a state and the opportunities it offers. Better-organized societies and prosperous nations are more likely to achieve better results; the reverse is the opposite. Prosperous countries invest heavily in the sports industry and reap the reward in the country’s performance at these major sporting events. Historically, Africa and other third-world countries have won fewer sports awards in these competitions. Although this may have improved a little recently, the improvement is not significant.

    The Paris Olympics is the latest iteration of great power competition in sports. So far, the  final medals table reaffirms the familiar order of precedence among sporting nations: the US, China, Australia, France, the UK, Japan etc, are the leaders. Despite our population and talent, Nigeria is nowhere represented in the medals table. Nigeria’s lacklustre performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics has shown our level of organizational tardiness, shabby preparation and short-term solutions for long-term challenges, poor incentive system, lack of patriotism, corruption and nepotism; low government and private sector investment.

    Olympics success is a function of many factors- training and preparation, athlete commitment and level of patriotism, sports administration capabilities, investment in sporting infrastructure, funding and professionalism. The poor organizational capabilities of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) led to the non-registration of Favour  Ofili for a race in which she had a bright chance. This is not the first time NOC has displayed this level of negligence. Nigeria’s performance at the Paris Olympics mirrors the extent of our preparations, investment, and commitment. It is clear that we need a significant improvement in our sports administration to avert a more consequential crisis soon afterwards.

    Our athletes do  not just  have potential, they are talented and capable. However, there is a lack of sufficient incentive and motivation for them to excel in the global international sporting arena. D’Tigress, Nigeria’s female basketball team, became the first African team (male or female) to reach the Olympic quarterfinals in Basketball. Favour Ofili became the first Nigerian in 28 years to reach the 200m finals. Chukwuebuka Enekwachi, in shotput, shone brightly even without a medal. Also, 18-year-old Samuel Ogazi became the first Nigerian man to reach the 400m final since 1988.  Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor  all secured spots in the final of the long jump event.

    These achievements are a testament to the potential of our athletes and should give us hope for the future of Nigerian sports.

    The Honourable Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, demonstrated exceptional organizational skills at the Summer Olympics. However, the limited timeframe was insufficient to fully impact the final medal table. This underscores the crucial role of possessing superior organizational capabilities and engaging in long-term planning in the success of our athletes and teams. It is imperative that we allow adequate time for preparations to manifest in tangible results, and this should be a key focus of our sports administration.

    However, the trend of Nigerian athletes competing for other countries raises questions about our sports administration, nationalism, and reward systems. Annette Nneka Echikunwoke, who won silver for the USA in the hammer throw, was a victim of administrative incompetence in the 2020 Olympics and hence had to switch representation to another  country.  Salwa Naser took silver for Bahrain in the women’s 400m race.  Yemisi Ogunleye won gold in the women’s shot put for Germany. Tade Ojora and Victoria Ohuruogu competed for Britain, Rhasidat Adeleke for Ireland, Daisy Osakwe for Italy and Manuel Mordi for Germany, among others. This trend is a loss for Nigeria and must end. We must be ready as a country to harness the talents of all Nigerians and appreciate them, no matter where they are in the world. This will not only strengthen our sports teams but also promote a sense of national pride and unity.

    John F. Kennedy argued that “sports are a microcosm of society. They are a medium through which we convey our values and goals.” It has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It can unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to young and old in a language they understand. It creates hope, whereas once, there was only despair. During this Olympics period, Nigerians feasted on the game, glued to their screens to cheer up their favourite athletes and inspire Nigerian athletes to sporting immortality.

    As the Olympic games were on, Nigerian youth embarked on the mother of all protest, where in the North, many lives and property were lost and damaged, and, in the South, a pervasive feeling of hopelessness was in the air. Whether there was any link between the competitive sports of the Olympics and the competition for state power by protesters is yet to be fathomed, but one thing is clear: there is a parallelism between competitive sports and competitive contest for influencing government power in a direction the protesters are clamouring for.

    The physicality of many sports, where athletes engage in direct, sometimes brutal, competition, also draws symbolism from physical combat. Sports like boxing, rugby, and American football, where physical dominance is crucial, can be seen as direct analogues to combat. Even in less physically confrontational sports, the psychological battles between competitors—where mental strength, resilience, and the will to win are paramount—resemble the psychological warfare between opposing forces in a conflict.

    Sporting competitions as modern-day wars is a metaphor that captures the Olympics’ intensity, rivalry, and national significance. While most of the sorts share many characteristics with warfare—nationalism, strategy, physical and psychological battles—the critical difference lies in sports’ peaceful and constructive nature. Unlike wars, which bring destruction and suffering, sports unite people, offering a way to celebrate human achievement, resolve conflicts, and foster global unity. The contrast between the Russian-Ukraine conflicts, the Hamas brouhaha and the Paris Olympics is obvious. The Olympics are symbols of peace and prosperity. The insane, rootless fanaticism that drives a sports team is the same spirit that motivates patriotic people. Nigeria should use opportunities of future Olympics to be counted among the respected  nations of the world. Let our future outing qualify us to  be regarded as a nation of serious minded people.

  • BREAKING: Sifan Hassan shatters Olympic record to win marathon gold in Paris

    BREAKING: Sifan Hassan shatters Olympic record to win marathon gold in Paris

    Sifan Hassan claimed gold in the Paris 2024 women’s marathon with a new Olympic record, finishing in 2:22:55 on Sunday, August 11.

    The Dutch athlete proved bookmakers wrong by bresting the tape first among other competitors. She showcased her remarkable endurance and determination in winning the race.

    Hassan, who had previously won bronze in both the 5000m and 10,000m, completed an impressive treble at the Olympic Games.

    Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa secured silver with a time of 2:22:58, while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri took bronze with a finish of 2:23:10.

    With just one turn to go in the marathon, Hassan and world record holder Assefa ran alone in the lead: Hassan in her bright orange Dutch kit, Assefa sporting the Ethiopian green.

    They both outran Olympic marathon defending champion, Yuka Suzuki, who completed the marathon in a personal-best time of 2 hours, 24 minutes, 2 seconds to finish just over a minute behind Hassan.

    Assefa led by a step. But Hassan, known as one of the best race finishers in history, summoned a burst of prodigious strength from within.

    She veered to Assefa’s left. Assefa stepped toward Hassan to block her path. Then with 150 meters to the finish line, Hassan countered with an elbow, shooing the Ethiopian away and bursting past her to take the lead by herself.

    Hassan’s time just edged the previous Olympic record, set by Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana at the 2012 London Games in 2:23.07.

    “At the end I thought, this is just a 100-meter sprint,” Hassan said, recalling her exact thoughts in the pivotal moment.

  • JUST IN: President of International Olympic Committee quits

    JUST IN: President of International Olympic Committee quits

    Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said on Saturday he would step down from his position when his second term expires in 2025.

    The German said he would not seek another term for which the Olympic Charter would have to be changed.

    Bach made the announcement at the IOC Session on the penultimate day of the Paris Olympics, saying the Olympic Movement is “best served with a change of leadership.

    “New times are calling for new leaders,” Bach said. “I, with my age, am not the best captain. I know with this decision I am disappointing many of you.”

    The German 1976 fencing gold medallist was elected in 2013 for an eight-year term as successor of Belgian surgeon Jacques Rogge and earned another four-year term in 2021.

    According to the charter, no more than 12 years at the top of the world’s most important sports organisation are allowed.

    Thus was part of the reforms around the Salt Lake City Winter Games bribes for votes scandal.

    But at last year’s session several IOC members had asked for a change of the charter and Bach to stay longer.

    Bach said at the time he was humbled by the proposals but also said he respected the charter.

    The IOC ethics committee had asked Bach to not speak out on the issue until the end of the Paris Games, because a statement in any direction could have overshadowed it.

    He said on Saturday that a new leader has to take charge in a more and more digital and politically pressured world.

    Bach oversaw the Olympic Agenda 2020 reform package which changed the bidding process and the hosting of the Games, and most recently the first e-sports Olympics were announced.

    But he was also accused of being too close with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

    His reign also saw the Russian state-sponsored doping programme in general and at the Sochi 2024 Games in particular.

    The new IOC president will be elected at next year’s Session in Greece in March, and to take over on Olympic Day June 23, when Bach will step down.

    No one has publicly expressed an intention to run for the presidency.

    World Athletics president Sebastian Coe and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, the son of long-time IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, have been mentioned as be potential candidates.

    But the IOC has also never been led by a woman.

  • Paris 2024: US female soccer team wins football gold

    Paris 2024: US female soccer team wins football gold

    The U.S. women’s soccer team claimed gold once more after defeating Brazil in a highly anticipated final match at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.

    Mallory Swanson, playing in her 100th match for the U.S., scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute. The U.S. team entered the game undefeated, but Brazil had the best early chances. Brazilian forward Ludmila was alone in front of the goal in the second minute, but her shot went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

    Brazil thought they had scored when Ludmila appeared to net a goal in the 16th minute, but it was quickly ruled out for offside.

    Among those in the crowd at Parc des Princes were Tom Cruise, former U.S. star Megan Rapinoe, and former NBA star Sue Bird.

    This victory marked the third time the United States has defeated Brazil in an Olympic final, with previous wins in 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing.