Preparations for the 2016 Olympics started right from the end of the London outing in 2012. Because of the disastrous outing at the last Games in London, a concerned government put up a machinery to begin early preparation and ensure that a repeat of the woeful outing four years ago is avoided.
However, with the series of events that have trailed the 2016 Rio Olympics, it seems no lesson have been learnt by those President Muhammadu Buhari put in-charge of Nigeria’s sports.
Here are 10 things wrong with Nigeria’s outing at the 2016 Olympics:
1. Poor funding
Many have blamed the President for this but he has little or no blame to share. In the absence of a substantive minister in 2015 when Nigeria was preparing for the All Africa Games, the president took briefing from the then Director General of the Nigeria Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut who demanded N2.9 billion, a sum the President Buhari gladly approved.
After the games, Yamkut announced that N640 million is left out of the total fund. This he said will go into preparations for the Rio Olympics but the athletes were left totally stranded at the fate of the new Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung. Worse still, no effort has been made to recall or summon Yakmut to say what he knows about the money allegedly ‘missing’ from the sports ministry’s account.
2. ‘Find your way to rio’ email
In trying times, leaders are expected to handle situations with diplomacy and maturity. However, those at the helms of Nigeria’s sports affairs did otherwise. On the 23rd of July, Veteran sports journalist, Colin Udoh shared via Social Media an email from Nigeria Sports Ministry to athletes asking them ‘pay their way to Rio’ when they were still being owed outstanding allowances. This is totally wrong.
3. Athletes beg for fund
Consequent of the ‘find your way to Rio’ email, Nigerian athletes at the dying minute took to social media to beg for fund to travel for the Olympics. One notable athlete is Chierika Ukogu who shelved her medical school program to represent Nigeria even though the country offered her no dime. She raised her fund through go fund me and now, she is through to the semis of rowing. Will Nigeria ever repay her?
4. Team Nigeria captain saga
Days after Mikel Obi was announced by the Ministry of Sports as the captain of Team Nigeria to Rio Olympics, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, came out to debunk the selection. Its Secretary -General, Tunde popoola said it was a rumour and they are addressing it. What an inconsistency.
5. Stranded Dream Team VI
The Nigeria Under-23 team was stranded in Atlanta USA where they camped in preparation for the games. After three flight cancellations due to the Sports Ministry's inability to pay, the team later flew to Rio barely 14 hours to the first match via a concerned Delta Airlines craft.
6. No food in camp
Apart from the fact that Coach Samson Siasia solicited for funds to allow U-23 players camp in Atlanta, the team was left to suffer in harsh conditions while in the United States. A source close to the team while in Atlanta disclosed that the team buys food outside the hotel so as to get it cheaper and sometimes, they go on hungry stomach.
7. Careless, rude Dalung
It was a wonder that the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung apologised to the players after the match against Sweden. The minister at one point said that ‘because the U-23 team are suffering in Atlanta, is that our business? How on earth is it not a Sport Minister's business? The minister also claimed to have visited the team in Atlanta and instead of discussing with the coach, he preferred the team captain. He later threatened to punish Siasia for going public on the neglect issue.
8. Track suit for opening ceremony
It was a national disgrace for the country on Friday when the team Nigeria stepped out in tracksuits to grace the opening ceremony in Rio. It was learnt that the outfit for the occasion was not ready. What a shame!
9. Wrong anthem
Someone suggested that the person in charge was drunk for taking Niger for Nigeria. The U-23 team was held in awe when they expected to hear ‘Arise o compatriots’ and another tune hummed through the gadgets. It was not a pleasant scene though apology has been tendered by organisers.
10. ‘United states of Nigeria’
Mr Dalung will not stop committing blunders. In an interview, the minister was caught saying that the U-23 team was stranded in the ‘United States of Nigeria.’
However, with the series of events that have trailed the 2016 Rio Olympics, it seems no lesson have been learnt by those President Muhammadu Buhari put in-charge of Nigeria’s sports.
Here are 10 things wrong with Nigeria’s outing at the 2016 Olympics:
1. Poor funding
Many have blamed the President for this but he has little or no blame to share. In the absence of a substantive minister in 2015 when Nigeria was preparing for the All Africa Games, the president took briefing from the then Director General of the Nigeria Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut who demanded N2.9 billion, a sum the President Buhari gladly approved.
After the games, Yamkut announced that N640 million is left out of the total fund. This he said will go into preparations for the Rio Olympics but the athletes were left totally stranded at the fate of the new Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung. Worse still, no effort has been made to recall or summon Yakmut to say what he knows about the money allegedly ‘missing’ from the sports ministry’s account.
2. ‘Find your way to rio’ email
In trying times, leaders are expected to handle situations with diplomacy and maturity. However, those at the helms of Nigeria’s sports affairs did otherwise. On the 23rd of July, Veteran sports journalist, Colin Udoh shared via Social Media an email from Nigeria Sports Ministry to athletes asking them ‘pay their way to Rio’ when they were still being owed outstanding allowances. This is totally wrong.
3. Athletes beg for fund
Consequent of the ‘find your way to Rio’ email, Nigerian athletes at the dying minute took to social media to beg for fund to travel for the Olympics. One notable athlete is Chierika Ukogu who shelved her medical school program to represent Nigeria even though the country offered her no dime. She raised her fund through go fund me and now, she is through to the semis of rowing. Will Nigeria ever repay her?
4. Team Nigeria captain saga
Days after Mikel Obi was announced by the Ministry of Sports as the captain of Team Nigeria to Rio Olympics, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, came out to debunk the selection. Its Secretary -General, Tunde popoola said it was a rumour and they are addressing it. What an inconsistency.
5. Stranded Dream Team VI
The Nigeria Under-23 team was stranded in Atlanta USA where they camped in preparation for the games. After three flight cancellations due to the Sports Ministry's inability to pay, the team later flew to Rio barely 14 hours to the first match via a concerned Delta Airlines craft.
6. No food in camp
Apart from the fact that Coach Samson Siasia solicited for funds to allow U-23 players camp in Atlanta, the team was left to suffer in harsh conditions while in the United States. A source close to the team while in Atlanta disclosed that the team buys food outside the hotel so as to get it cheaper and sometimes, they go on hungry stomach.
7. Careless, rude Dalung
It was a wonder that the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung apologised to the players after the match against Sweden. The minister at one point said that ‘because the U-23 team are suffering in Atlanta, is that our business? How on earth is it not a Sport Minister's business? The minister also claimed to have visited the team in Atlanta and instead of discussing with the coach, he preferred the team captain. He later threatened to punish Siasia for going public on the neglect issue.
8. Track suit for opening ceremony
It was a national disgrace for the country on Friday when the team Nigeria stepped out in tracksuits to grace the opening ceremony in Rio. It was learnt that the outfit for the occasion was not ready. What a shame!
9. Wrong anthem
Someone suggested that the person in charge was drunk for taking Niger for Nigeria. The U-23 team was held in awe when they expected to hear ‘Arise o compatriots’ and another tune hummed through the gadgets. It was not a pleasant scene though apology has been tendered by organisers.
10. ‘United states of Nigeria’
Mr Dalung will not stop committing blunders. In an interview, the minister was caught saying that the U-23 team was stranded in the ‘United States of Nigeria.’