From Business Day, "Olympic medals are for winners," on 15 AUGUST 2012, by Dele Ayoko -- When our team was departing for London for the Olympics and promises of gold were being made by the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), one sports analyst had cynically remarked that the Nigerian team would not win any medal at the Olympics (let alone gold). He was roundly condemned as being unpatriotic. Indeed, the NOC had boasted Nigerian would get a minimum of five gold medals. But where was the arithmetic to back these promises?
By now, Nigerians have accepted their fate. The Nigerian contingent – Team Nigeria – was pummelled at every venue. From basketball to boxing, table tennis to taekwondo, wrestling to weight lifting, the result was the same. Nigeria did not record a single medal in the Olympics. The fervour of patriotism has since disappeared. This is a cruel collision with reality.
Within the country, the disappointment is palpable. At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Nigeria managed to bring home only four medals, and none of the medals came in gold. China, USA and Great Britain were slugged it out for the top spot on the medal table. Many African countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and even Gabon were all well represented on the medals table. Even smaller nations like Grenada and Jamaica shone at the world stage.
Few days ago, the minister of sports stated that the country should use this poor performance as a springboard for future performance. However, Nigerians are obviously not in a mood for oratory explanations of failure to soothe our bruised ego. We seem to remember our drawing board only when we have been handed a bitter lesson from international sporting events. These are the sort of performances that have made some call for the country’s temporary withdrawal from international sporting events. While this is ill-advised, we need to look at where we are getting it all wrong. The answer is probably not one thing but a host of things.
The biggest point is Nigeria’s lack of preparation for international sporting competitions. A recent statement by Obisia Nwankpa that our athletes only use three months to prepare for the Olympics speaks volumes. Our lack of preparation has finally caught up with us after years of riding our luck.
While sport is the most unifying factor in Nigeria today, the manner of appointment of sports ministers is worrisome. Most have no link with sports other than to watch it on television; as such, they have to learn on the job, and before they are able to contribute anything, they are replaced. The appointment of ministers of sports seems to have been a case of ‘if we don’t have anywhere to post this person, let us send him to the Sports Ministry’.
Sports development in Nigeria has also been stifled by the prevalent corruption in the administration of sports. Nigeria’s yearly budget dwarfs that of Grenada and Jamaica combined, but the funds are simply siphoned through inflated and bogus contracts, while the athletes are not funded.
Our grassroots sports development has stalled. We only hear of litigations, crisis, and petitions in the sports sector. The annual sports festival is characterised by states poaching athletes from other states with cash incentive in a bid to do well in the medal count. Immediately the competition ends, these athletes are quickly forgotten. Even the Nigeria Police that produced athletes like Chioma Ajunwa and Sunday Bada has gone to sleep.
Our organised private sector and non-governmental agencies need to pitch into sports. In western countries, many of their athletes are sponsored or endorsed. This helps them to focus on their main task of training. The vibrancy of Nigeria’s entertainment industry can be linked to endorsements enjoyed by some of these artistes. Sports cannot be left to the government alone. Many Nigerian companies would rather collaborate with foreign sports clubs to the detriment of their Nigerian counterparts. For example, Airtel spent a lot to bring Arsenal FC to Nigeria. Glo has also spent a lot to ensure partnership with Manchester United, etc.
Another point is lack of support for sports by Nigeria universities. In the past, many Nigerian athletes enjoyed scholarships from foreign universities. Where a student was identified as having potential in sports, there was a deliberate effort to assist him or her using university scholarship. This was how Onyali, Chidi Imoh, and the Ezenwa brothers were able to develop their potentials.
Parents also need to support their wards, since not all will become doctors or bankers. Consider the case of the Williams sisters in lawn tennis, Tiger Wood in golf, and Gabby Douglas in gymnastics. They all started early with their parents acting as their coaches.
Government should also show sincere effort by providing training venues and coaches in all parts of the country. Public facilities like swimming pools and tennis courts should be provided, where the average kid on the street with an interest can come and have his skill developed.
Finally, the culture of using and dumping our sportsmen and women should stop. Many of them go without any recognition at retirement. In other countries, they are honoured at retirement. We need to imbibe such in Nigeria if we are to bend the curve of sports downturn. These changes have become necessary as Olympic medals are for winners, not losers! (source: Business Day)
No comments:
Post a Comment