Nigeria and the 2016 Olympics.

Nigeria and it's untapped talents: Prior to every Olympics game, I often wonder how differently it would have been if our talents had been explored and developed. Take gymnastics for instance. The people of Igbomina-Ekiti (Kwara State) are very well known for their skills in gymnastics. The Ilaje people of Ondo State and the folks in the Niger-Delta region have great skills in swimming. The people in the Middle belt area are good in long distance races just as the South West and the South East people are skilled in sprints. 

Back in the 1970s, there were preparatory games or events whereby participants were vigorously tested. The best of the lot in each event were then selected to represent the nation at international sporting events. I remember Rowe Park in Yaba, Lagos. That place used to be a foremost breeding ground for participants in swimming, table-tennis, badminton and boxing. And by the way, whatever happened to sporting events such as the Principal Cup Championship, NUGA games, the Academicals, state sports festivals, National Sports Festival and a host of others.

It's no wonder now that, at every Olympics, the nation is represented by a bunch of ageing atheletes and every mediocre that can be assembled. At the end of the day, it's not really the nation's glory that matters but the hefty allowances to be collected by sports administrators and the elaborate fun they will have in some foreign 5-star hotels.

Sadly, while the country is awash with the necessary raw human materials, the facilities and training resources are almost non-existent. Rather, the only sporting event that interests our sports administrators is football (soccer). But is soccer the only sporting event that is worth developing and celebrating in the 21st Century Nigeria?