By Francis Ajuonuma
President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, OON, FNSE, has commended the Grand Patron of the Committee, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for providing the resources to support the participation of Team Nigeria in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The NOC President also commends the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, for his selfless efforts and welfare support to the team through the period of the Olympic Games.
A statement signed by NOC’s PRO, Tony Nezianya, on behalf of Gumel and made available to ThisNigeria, shows that a team of 87 athletes across 12 sports was symbolically handed over to the Olympic Committee for the Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
According to the NOC President, the athletes demonstrated exceptional dedication during the Games, earning eight placement Diplomas for their performances. However, their effort fell short of achieving podium finishes, leading to disappointment among our compatriots at home and abroad.
“Within the Olympic Movement, we share in this disappointment as Nigerians, and we are committed to taking decisive action to address the underlying issues that have contributed to these sub-par performance in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“In light of this setback, we must analyse the root causes of our shortcomings and revisit fundamental principles.
He noted that witnessing fellow African nations like Botswana achieve historic milestones at these Games underscores the importance of long-term strategic development for our athletes, emphasising the necessity for strong collaboration and a clear understanding of the various roles within the Olympic family, including partners and the Government.
“Recognising that timely funding plays a pivotal role in securing podium success at the Olympic Games is crucial. Without interruption, it necessitates continuous engagement with athletes, technical experts, professional administrators, and stakeholders throughout the 4-year cycle.
“Moreover, as integral components of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the National Sports Federations should be empowered to consistently prepare athletes, conduct training sessions, and organise qualification events that nurture sporting talents capable of reaching podium finishes.
“Also, the participation of the National Teams in major sporting tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games, the African Games, the Youth Games, the World Championships and others are crucial to the preparations for the Olympic Games,” he added, while revealing the various support provided by the NOC in developing Nigerian sports.
“Over the years, we have consistently provided scholarships, grants, coaching, and refereeing courses through the IOC, Olympic Solidarity and ANOCA sources to our athletes and administrators.
He admitted that despite disappointing performance of Team Nigeria in France, there some positives taken back home, singling out the women’s basketball team , D’Tigress for praise.
“Despite the overall below-par- performance, certain sports showcased remarkable achievements. For example, our basketball team, D’Tigress, displayed remarkable resilience and determination by advancing in the tournament and defeating Australia and Canada.
“This is the first time an African team in either the mens or women’s competition reached the the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball event.
“Remarkably, our women’s basketball team coach, Trainer Rene Wakama, was voted the best Coach/Manager at the Paris 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament.
“However, unfortunately, many noteworthy stars in our Olympic team could not excel in their various sports, including the World record holder, Tobi Amusan, in the women’s100-meters hurdles.
