Nigeria’s chances of winning multiple medals (gold, silver, and bronze) at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, are uncertain. The country will compete in this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Before the Opening Ceremony on Friday, several sports events, including football, rugby sevens, handball, and archery, will take place.
The 2024 Summer Olympics will feature 32 sports. According to the DAILY POST, a total of 87 athletes will represent Nigeria in 12 different sports, namely athletics, taekwondo, swimming, boxing, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, badminton, canoeing, cycling, women’s football, and women’s basketball.
Reports states that the number of sports in which Team Nigeria will compete is below average compared to the total number of events at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has urged Nigerians to support the nation throughout the games. He expressed his hope that Team Nigeria would surpass its best Olympic performance, which was achieved at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.
“We are confident that with the support of every Nigerian, our team will excel and make the nation proud. Let’s unite in support of our athletes as they embark on this remarkable journey. Our aspiration is not just to participate but to excel and bring home the medals,” Enoh said.
Enoh also assured that the athletes would receive their Olympic Games allowances and winning bonuses to ensure their best performance. “The entire 100 million naira contributed by the Federal House of Representatives will be given to the athletes. Additionally, domestic camping allowances, foreign training grants, foreign training allowances, Olympic Games allowances, and winning bonuses will be provided to ensure our athletes are well-supported,” he added.
In an interview with DAILY POST, Isa Saleh, Co-founder of Borno Junior League, expressed doubts about Team Nigeria’s prospects for winning many medals. He cited poor preparation, lack of world-standard sporting facilities, and the limited number of sports events in which Nigeria will participate at the Paris 2024 Olympics as major concerns.
“Well, it is good that Nigeria will be participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. I congratulate the athletes who will represent Nigeria on the global stage and wish them well. Nigerians should ensure they support these athletes in every way when the Games start,” Saleh said.
“However, one of the doubts I have concerning Team Nigeria is due to the fact that they will only participate in 12 sporting events. If you look at that number, it is not even half of the total 32 sports events that will take place in Paris. This obviously limits our chances of winning many medals. Additionally, I am not satisfied with the preparation prior to the Paris Olympics. The Olympics occur every four years, and I doubt if Team Nigeria has been preparing for the last four years for this event. Participating in only 12 out of 32 sports events is below average. I am sorry to say this, but the result could reflect in our performances when the Olympics commence this week. Furthermore, the issue of quality world-class sporting facilities has always been a challenge for the sports industry in Nigeria. This is why it is difficult for Nigeria to secure the right to host major competitions like AFCON or the World Cup,” he further stated.
Nigeria’s contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympics includes talented and world-class athletes such as Oluwatobiloba Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu, the two Favours (Ashe and Ofili), Odunayo Adekouroye, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Aruna Quadri, among others.
