The Association attributed the massive failure of the country in Paris to largely administrative incompetence and negligence which were obvious after Nigeria’s highly rated track and field athlete, Favour Ofili’s name was found missing from the list of those meant to compete in the 100m event.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has described the performance of Team Nigeria at the 2024 Olympic Games as far below expectations.
A statement by SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, through the Association’s Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo said it was unacceptable for Nigeria to return from the just concluded Olympics without a medal.
The Association attributed the massive failure of the country in Paris to largely administrative incompetence and negligence which were obvious after Nigeria’s highly rated track and field athlete, Favour Ofili’s name was found missing from the list of those meant to compete in the 100m event.
With the outcome of the Games, SWAN asked “why so many promises of medal haul were dished out by the sports authorities when they were very much aware that there was nothing on ground, including the level of preparation to guarantee a podium performance”.
The statement issued by Ikenna Okonkwo, SWAN Secretary-General, said, “Before Games, Nigerians were meant to believe that all was well when the Sports Ministry kept assuring that the performance of Nigeria at 2024 Olympics would surpass the country’s best ever outing at the Atlanta 1996 edition.
The entire media fraternity in Nigeria was equally surprised to hear that the reason Nigeria didn’t perform optimally in Paris was due to lack of preparation as various Sports Federations, as it has now been exposed that the Federations only focused on ensuring that their athletes qualified for the Olympics but did nothing to prepare them for Olympics performance.
“The result from Paris goes to show that so much needed to be done that were not put in place, despite the huge amount of taxpayers’ money that was made available by the federal government just for only participation.
“This circle has to be put to a stop because it is now obvious that Nigeria’s Sports needs a breath of fresh air.
“It is a well-known fact that sporting talents abound in Nigeria but the management of these talents leaves so much to be desired.”
“In the past and even at the just concluded Olympics, Nigerians, some of them who had competed for Nigeria, switched allegiance to other countries and did so well to win medals,” the statement said.
The SWAN leadership therefore called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency restructure the entire sporting sector and ensure that only people who have the knowledge and passion for the sector are given the opportunity to operate in such a critical sector.
It said, “Sports is now a huge business venture in other parts of the world. So, to avoid a repeat of what happened in Paris Olympics, the Nigerian Sports sector has to be opened up for professionals and business minded persons to step in and salvage the situation.
“Nigeria has a reservoir of personalities who are doing very well within and outside the country that have all it takes to uplift Nigerian Sports so that the youths who are mostly the worst hit in terms of unemployment and societal restiveness can make an honest living on the sector.”
However, SWAN also reminded the leadership of the Sports Ministry on the need to expedite action in unravelling the cause of previous administrative lapses at global competitions, especially as it concerns the inability of Ofili to take part in the 100m event in Paris.
“Dealing with administrative issues bedevilling Nigerian sports will actually be the fulcrum upon which the resurrection and development of Sports in the country will be hinged on.
“That Nigeria’s Sports development is still backward is because necessary administrative bottlenecks have not been diagnosed and treated accordingly,” it added.
SWAN also called for early preparation to 2028 Olympics to avoid the pitfalls of the past.
Similarly, on Monday, Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, demanded the immediate dismissal of Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, following Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In a post on his X account on Monday, Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), argued that firing Enoh would be the most effective way for the country to express its discontent with his handling of the sports ministry.
Sowore lambasted the minister for ‘preparing for failure’ during the Olympics, rather than success.
He pointed to the deplorable state of the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as evidence of the minister’s ineptitude, sarcastically noting that Nigeria’s lack of investment in sports infrastructure is why the country couldn’t even win a ‘plastic spoon’, let alone a single medal, at the Olympics.
Sowore’s scathing critique follows Nigeria’s dismal performance at the Olympics, where the country failed to secure any medals
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) released footage showing the jets flying alongside the plane, releasing celebratory flares into the morning sky. This display mirrored a similar gesture from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where four Mirage 2000-5 jets were used to welcome home Taiwanese athletes.
The athletes’ return was a source of national celebration. Besides Lin Yu-ting’s gold, the island’s other gold medal was claimed by Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, the badminton duo who defended their men’s doubles title against China’s team. Their victories, alongside the five bronze medals, highlighted a remarkable Olympic campaign for Taiwan.
On August 16, the athletes will be honored with a “Taiwan Heroes Parade,” starting from the Presidential Office at 3 p.m. and concluding at Zhongshan S. Road.
The event will celebrate the athletes’ remarkable achievements and contribution to Taiwanese pride on the global stage.
The Ministry of National Defense reiterated that the deployment of the F-16s adhered to all relevant regulations and did not interfere with any combat missions, ensuring the celebratory gesture was respectful and within official guidelines.
Controversy Surrounding Taiwanese Boxer
Lin Yu-ting and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif entered the Paris Olympics under a cloud of controversy. Both had been central figures in a contentious debate over gender identity in sports. Their participation followed the International Boxing Association (IBA) ‘s disqualification from the previous year’s world championships.
The IBA, led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev and funded by the state oil company Gazprom, disqualified them due to unspecified gender tests, which led to claims from critics questioning their eligibility to compete in women’s events.
These allegations placed Lin and Khelif at the forefront of a broader discussion on gender identity and safety regulations in sports. The IBA’s handling of the situation was criticized for a lack of due process, particularly after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the “arbitrary” testing imposed on the athletes.
The IBA’s Olympic status was revoked in June 2023 amidst allegations of governance issues and corruption, further complicating the matter.
Adding to the drama, IBA’s president, Kremlev, in a disorganized press conference, alleged that both athletes had undergone “genetic testing,” which purportedly showed they were men.
However, the IOC defended both athletes, affirming that Lin and Khelif were born and raised as women and possessed passports reflecting their gender. Neither athlete identifies as transgender.
The situation gained further visibility due to public statements from figures such as former US President Donald Trump and author J.K. Rowling, who contributed to the online debate and controversy.
Lin Yu-ting, amid this uproar, has largely maintained a focus on her performances and expressed gratitude towards her supporters, including praise for her opponents. Her quarterfinal and semifinal matches in Paris were marked by a mix of sportsmanship and controversy, as some competitors expressed that Lin should not have been eligible to compete.
Amid the ongoing debate, Lin has received robust support from Taiwan, including from former President Tsai Ing-wen, who publicly expressed solidarity with the boxer via social media.
This support highlights the strong national pride and support Lin has garnered throughout her Olympic journey despite the contentious circumstances surrounding her participation
