Nigeria’s participation in the Paris Olympics was appalling, as no medal was won. The athletes need not be blamed for the unfortunate outcomes but the sports administrators for their fabled incompetence. It is an utter national disgrace that should not be swept under the carpet, as the country is accustomed to.
This is the eighth of such infamous record in the global competition, the last being the equally very poor showing at the London Olympics of 2012. The Olympics have become a platform which nations use to showcase their strength, culture, and youth development.
As the Olympics closed on 11 August, the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, rightly described the country’s outing as a “disaster,” and apologised to Nigerians. But the apology will not suffice. Sports-loving Nigerians, who painfully watched the shameful spectacle, stridently demand that heads must roll in the sports sector if things are ever to be got right. This call is well made. But others were not surprised as the lack of commitment to national duty, corruption, leadership tussles, mismanagement of funds and litigation often define our sports administration. These vices override the gravamen of nurturing athletes to excellence and having them bring honours to the country.
