It is no longer news that Nigeria made a poor showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics despite the N9 Billion spent on the exercise. N12 billion was said to have been invested on the entire venture, a sum reportedly almost twice the amount budgeted for the entire Ministry of Science and Technology this year.
Nigeria’s scant treatment of its athletes has been an issue over the years and it was demonstrated right at the commencement of the games when Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress was not allowed to board the delegation’s boat for the opening ceremony.
When the team made it to the area where it was supposed to board the boat for the ceremony, they were denied entry and turned back by a Nigerian official who told the players and coaches there were too many people on board. They went on to win their first game and another despite the discouraging treatment.
The Ese Ukpeseraye Nigeria’s first ever Olympic cyclist had to borrow a bike from the German team to compete with after she was unable to source one of her own.
Indeed the athletes allege that they have been let down by the nation’s sports officials.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Nigerian sprinter and one of the fastest women this year, Favour Ofili, said the country’s athletics federation and Olympic organising committee failed to register her for the event.
Ofili said this was not the first time she was being let down. At the Tokyo Games four years ago, she was one of 10 Nigerian athletes who were not able to compete because Nigerian Olympics officials failed to organize doping tests or the tests they organized did not meet international standards.
But what Nigeria fails to appreciate other countries are grabbling with both hands. Several athletes of Nigerian descent made significant contributions while representing other nations.
These athletes, though born or connected to Nigeria, chose to compete under the flags of countries such as Germany, Bahrain, the United States, France, Great Britain and Spain.
Their performances not only earned them individual glory but also highlighted the diverse and global nature of talent originating from Nigeria.
From winning gold in shot put to securing silver in the 400m and hammer throw, and men’s football these athletes demonstrated exceptional skill and determination on the world stage, continuing the legacy of Nigerian excellence in international sports.
Nigeria went ‘medal-less’
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s contingent left the tournament without securing a single medal, marking it one of the country’s most disappointing Olympic outings in recent times.
Despite having a strong roster of athletes, the closest Nigeria came to winning a medal was in athletics, where a few athletes made it to the finals but failed to finish on the podium.
This result contrasts sharply with Nigeria’s best Olympic performance, which occurred at the Atlanta 1996 Games, where the nation won six medals, including gold in men’s football and women’s long jump.
On the other hand, the 2024 outing could be considered among Nigeria’s worst, paralleling the 2012 London Olympics, where the country also failed to win any medals, underscoring the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s sports development and international competition performance
The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded on August 11, 2024, with the United States leading the medal table with 126 medals (40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze). China followed closely with 91 medals, and Japan rounded out the top three with 45 medals.
Notably, the host nation, France, finished fifth with 64 medals. Other standout nations included Australia, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, all of which placed in the top ten. N9bn budget
Sports development minister, Senator John Owan-Enoh, said that President Bola Tinubu approved over N12bn for Team Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France. This comes with N9bn for Olympics and N3bn for Paralympics.
Here’s an overview of eight athletes of Nigerian descent who won medals representing other nations at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
- Yemisi Ogunleye (Germany)
Event: Women’s Shot Put
Medal: Gold
Yemisi Ogunleye, born in Germany to a Nigerian father, made history by winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This victory marked Germany’s first gold in the event since 1996.
Watch video of joyful Yemisi singing praises after her win.
- Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain)
Event: Women’s 400m
Medal: Silver
Salwa Eid Naser, originally born as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Nigeria, claimed the silver medal in the 400m for Bahrain. Naser, who switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014, continues to be a dominant force in track and field, adding to her collection of international medals.
- Annette Echikunwoke (USA)
Event: Women’s Hammer Throw
Medal: Silver
Annette Echikunwoke, who was born in Ohio to Nigerian parents, won a silver medal in the hammer throw for the United States. Her performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics added to her growing reputation in field events.
- Michael Olise (France)
Event: Men’s Football
Medal: Silver
Michael Olise, born to a Nigerian father, was a key player for France in the men’s football competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The team won the silver medal, with Olise’s contributions being crucial to their success.
- Samu Omorodion (Spain)
Event: Men’s Football
Medal: Gold
Samu Omorodion, who represented Spain, won a gold medal in men’s football at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Although he is still eligible to represent Nigeria, Omorodion has been making his mark with Spain.
- Barthelemy Chinenyeze (France)
Event: Men’s Volleyball
Medal: Gold
Chinenyeze is a French volleyball player who gained prominence by leading the French national team to a gold medal in men’s volleyball. His outstanding performance has established him as a key player in the sport.
- Victoria Ohuruogu (Great Britain)
Event: 4x400m Relay
Medal: Bronze
Victoria Ohuruogu, representing Great Britain, won a bronze medal in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is the younger sister of Christine Ohuruogu, a former Olympic gold medalist, and has followed in her footsteps by contributing to Britain’s success in the relay.
- Femi “Bam” Adebayo (USA)
Event: Men’s Basketball
Medal: Gold
Femi Bam Adebayo, often referred to simply as Bam Adebayo, played a crucial role in the USA men’s basketball team winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Born to a Nigerian father, Adebayo is a prominent NBA player known for his defensive prowess and versatility on the court.
Paralympics to the rescue?
Over the years Nigeria’s physically-challenged athletes have been the ones redeeming the much needed Olympic gold despite never having been properly honoured by the government.
In 2016 after another dismal and embarrassing performance of Nigeria’s athletes at the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, Nigerians had cause to cheer and celebrate, courtesy of the outstanding performance of Team Nigeria to the Paralympic Games.
While the country’s able-bodied athletes had a crisis and controversy-riddled preparation and only a bronze medal to show for the huge expectations on the Olympic contingent, the physically-challenged athletes of Team Nigeria to the Paralympics finished commendably with eight gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
PUNCH Online reports that the next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, USA, in 2028, offering Nigeria another opportunity to improve on its performance and regain its standing on the global sports stage.
Additional reports and photo by PUNCH.
