Rio 2016

The Olympics allow every 4 years, countries of the world to come together and play. The Olympics recognises 206 countries, allowing Palestine, Taiwan(Chinese Taipei), Kosovo, Hong Kong, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. and Refugee Olympic Team, allowing athletes not to be customarily represented to have a voice. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the nations came displaying their flags, officials, and athletes. This year's Olympics took place in Rio Janeiro, Brazil. Despite all the negative news of uncompleted venues, high crime rate, Zaka virus, drug ban for the Russians, etc., so far, this event has proved to be a wonderful experience. The United States swept the board. They had more medals than 180 countries combined. I looked at the highlights at the end of every day, from Archery to Wrestling, and I noticed that the developed nations had more medals than the developing countries. However, as with most things, it is more complex than further data analysis indicates.

Current Medal Table

The first 12 countries, as seen from the current medal table, are developed countries, i.e. United States, Great Britain, China, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, etc. These countries had medals spread all over the spectrum in various sports disciplines. Then you had developing countries like Kenya and Jamaica, whose medals were restricted to just one area, Athletics, because their corresponding government is part of their educational system, involved in identifying, grooming, maintaining and rewarding selected pupils who are identified early in life. They exploit a natural resource, i.e., located at high altitudes, providing athletes high-altitude training for free, which is essential for endurance runners. Regarding government involvement, what is regarded as extreme by Western standards is that of China.

Government involvement could be seen as a throwback from the Cold War and a source of national superiority. We all remember the East German ladies who look more like men. It turned out they were, in a manner of speaking, they had their ovaries removed and were given high doses of anabolic steroids and the USSR as well - with their government-involved doping programs. Teams of state doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, laboratories, academics, etc., actively cheat. The Olympic medal table crudely differentiates the developed countries from the developing world. Although India and Pakistan are much more developed than other countries on the medal table, it is not as simple as winning only one bronze and zero medals. Then there is the role of women. Countries that do not even support female athletes due to religious or cultural norms are unlikely to win medals in female events. These constitute about 50% of the medals. Only recently, in 2012, did Saudi Arabia have a female athlete. This was after it had been threatened with a ban from future Olympics along with Qatar and Brunei. And there is the other issue of some sports not just being done by some countries or even being done to a relatively high degree, like swimming and synchronised swimming. Some countries do not have public swimming pools, except for the rich selected clubs and hotels.

Hence, sports like swimming, synchronised swimming, diving, triathlon, modern pentathlon and marathon swimming to an extent, and water polo will not be accessed by their population. Others need well-equipped gymnasiums. Do not get me started on Archery, Canoe Sprint, Fencing, Golf, Equestrian, Cycling, modern pentathlon, Sailing, etc., which require specific equipment costing thousands of pounds and need specialised coaches and then you have a sports nutritionist, a sports psychologist, sports medicine, sports physiotherapist, sports scientist and various training regiments at high altitude, high pressure, etc. Sport is now a multi-million industry with sponsors, advertisements, etc., with names like Sky, Nike, Coke Cola, Pepsi, Visa, Toyota, and there are millions to be made.

Great Britain has sometimes been different. In the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, they were the 36th with only one gold, 8 silvers, and 6 bronze. So, what did they do to increase funding in sports? Set sound systems, processes, and structures in place and about 20 years later, they see the results. There was a clear and consistent goal to produce medals. Hence, unfortunately, this reduced certain underfunded sports, i.e., those who felt they had less possibility of producing medals. Some critics say that such action is damaging grassroots sports like basketball. The games deemed worthy were cycling, athletics, gymnastics, and others. Obviously, it seems equestrian. According to Rod Carr, Chairman of UK Sports, those who had their funding cut were swimming, volleyball, table tennis, wrestling, and badminton. They had a business-focused approach to it, and even some of those they had cut their funds brought in medals (swimming and badminton), while no teams were sent for volleyball or wrestling. And in the same Olympics, Nigeria was 32nd with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze. We have deteriorated. However, some have described medal inflation, i.e. many more events, but I do not see what that has to do with it. But Nigeria has been investing less than the British. 

So, it is unsurprising that Nigeria may leave the games with no medals. Considering the money spent on sports, it needs to be managed better. There is a rumour that many Nigerian contingents arrived in Rio late. There is also a more serious allegation that many of our athletes must find their way to various events. It was said that it took American company Delta Airlines to transport the team free of charge to Brazil. There have been stories of some athletes not paying their bills, etc. And there is a more serious story: the plane was entire of the ministry of sports officials, politicians, and their relatives, leaving little space for real athletes. The was a report that the kits required 3 days till the final date. Our football team arrived only hours before the kickoff. The squad's problem squad'snta is that money goes through different accounts and money conversions. Our players do not get food to eat and have to beg for food. Then, there was the story of our basketball team needing to prepare for the games. I am aware that many of these stories have been embellished, exaggerated, manipulated and may be distorted. Still, it does show that something is amiss, and the low medal turnout allows a lot of speculation. The government appropriated $14.6 million a year ago for the games, but it seems it is still being determined how the money has been spent, reportedly from the Minister of Sports. But I had forgotten that the Nigerian team did not win any London Olympics in 2012 or the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I suggest a solution to our medal problem as this would bring much-needed national pride. The first thing they should have in place is a system that caters to our athletes' needs, requirements' wants, desires, needs, etc., most likely to be independent bodies with transparency and accountability. This body will aim to increase Nigeria's medal yield and Nigeria's sports in schools. The organisation will be responsible for identifying, recruiting, maintaining, etc. Nigerian talent in Nigeria. Another separate body was responsible for Nigerians aboard. This process has to start now to see dividends in 12 years, i.e. the 2028 Olympics. Nigeria needs to look at sports development strategically and with long-term goal development. Most athletes are talent-spotted at an early age, at around 12 or below, much earlier in communist countries, i.e., from 5 to 6 years in China and North Korea. Jamaica has the "Champs", five days of extravaganza, the biggest track and field event involving high school students worldwide in Jamacia. Talent spotters and scouts from various colleges in the US are present, and the Jamaican government allows an environment that allows such events to flourish. As part of our training programs for PE teachers, sports journalists, coaches, etc., they should learn how to spot and identify talent in Nigeria. A separate process would be grooming, training, and developing such individuals like a Sports Academy. For example, in the UK, talent is picked up early in life and groomed using money from the national lottery. This allows sponsorship and all the costs of numerous games and events. Help with equipment is provided. Unfortunately, we have a cronyism culture, favouritism, tribalism, quota system, etc., that might make it complicated. We have a pool of young, determined individuals, and if we cannot tap into the pool, other countries will happily relieve us of that burden.

But they will train the athletes, change their names, run under their colours, and bring their countries glory. Then there is the money. The government can get involved in many multimillionaires, and companies can increase their profile by sponsoring athletes. Of course, there is the cute story of our rower, Dr Chierika Ukogu, who was knocked out at the semi-finals. She is America-born and sponsored herself as Nigeria's first-ever Olympic female rower, which is not the correct term, technically speaking, as she could only secure sponsorship by Boathouse Sports, Philadelphia, USA. Nigerian government can encourage foreign firms abroad. I will encourage something else, but we can look at it and see ways and methods of preventing such drain.

Ms Chierika Ukogu

Of course, there is always the Paralympics and Commonwealth Games.