Nigeria’s woeful Performance in the Paris Olympics and Lessons for Sports Development in Imo

No less than 10,500 athletes representing 205 countries participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with an equal number of male and female participants competing, according to the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

Out of this number, the United States topped the chart with 593 athletes while Nigeria fielded 83 participants for the event which was held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Worrisome though, is Nigeria’s performance at the global event when compared with the country’s humongous budget for the outing.

An expenditure of over 12 billion naira was approved by President Bola Tinubu as confirmed by Minister of Sports Development, John Owan-Enoh, nine billion naira for the Olympics and three billion naira for the Paralympics.

Unfortunately, Nigeria returned from the Olympics event after an abysmal performance without a single medal.

This has generated reactions from concerned citizens, with many blaming the unfortunate performance on poor planning and management of athletes and resources.

All states of the federation must therefore take a cue from this experience and seek to develop sports across board, especially from the grassroots.

This will thus ensure that the country has a stream of talents from which athletes can be harnessed rather than be subjected to eleventh hour preparations at all times.

Imo state, in particular, must take advantage of the government’s investments in the sector and put resources into their best use.

Today, Heartland FC does not boast of participation in the 2024/2025 Nigerian Premier Football League, having been relegated from the competition in the immediate past season.

One begins to wonder why, despite the state government’s sponsorship and investments, including a donation of N100 million in the past year, Heartland FC could hardly survive relegation.

There is therefore, a huge similarity between the Nigerian situation and that of Imo state – with huge funding for sporting events yet, zero results.

C- Advocate calls on all stakeholders in sports development, in Imo and Nigeria at large, to step up their efforts to return the state and the country to their pride of place among the comity of states and nations.

Scarce resources must be spent , not wasted. The Paralympics cannot afford to return another national embarrassment just as Imo people cannot afford to lose and lose again.

Corruption in sports management must, as a matter of importance, be rooted out of the Nigerian system, to justify expended resources and restore hope.

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