Olympics: Sports minister calls for reflection, rebuilding after disappointing outing

The Minister of Sports, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has urged Nigerians to use the experience at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics to turn attention to what the sector requires.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister said this on Friday in Paris, France, at a news conference with Nigerian journalists.

He said the nation should turn what happened at the summer Olympics in France into a huge positive.

The minister also queries the level of sports infrastructure in Nigeria as well as funding, adding that there are numerous challenges facing the administration of the industry.

“How much this challenges us, for me, I wish I was speaking with you with records of results and outcomes that are better.

“Let us turn what has happened to huge positive for Nigerian sports. There are lots of takeaways even though we didn’t get the medals.

“The basketball team achieved what has never been achieved before, long jump, we may not have won any medals, but we had three Nigerians taking part in the finals,” Enoh said.

The minister, who expressed concerns about the commitment and patriotism of some of the athletes, said this was not to drag any of them.

He said there are too many variables that are responsible for doing well at the Olympics.

“Olympics are a function of too many variables, talking about the training and preparation, how much of it took place.

“The commitment of the athletes and their level of patriotism—when I say what I want to say, I’m by no means trying to drag any of the athletes.

“As young men and women, they have done well for their country.

“I remain proud of our athletes in spite the outcome of the Olympics; it is not easy in a world of billions of people,” Enoh said.

NAN reports that team Nigeria was yet to win a medal at the time of filing this report, in spite of competing in 12 events with 88 athletes. (NAN)