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As Tokyo Olympic Tees Off

THE XXXII Olympics took off on Friday, July 23, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan after a long delay following the outbreak of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic. The four-year international sporting festival was supposed to have held in 2020, but for the pandemic.
EVERY odd had been against the global sports event, but the International Olympics Committee, ICC, insisted that the games should not be postponed again. In his argument, the president of ICC, Thomas Bash, postulated that hosting the event would demonstrate that humanity can defeat coronavirus and also use the opportunity to unite the world that has been traumatized by the virus.
BUT this year’s edition of the Olympics games is unique as fans would not be allowed to watch the games inside the gigantic Japan National Stadium and other venues slated for the games. Despite about 80 percent public opinion against the games and coronavirus surge in Japan, the host government had insisted on going on with the event.
THE organisers before and during official opening of the games had adhered strictly to the COVID-19 rules, testing athletes and officials intermittently for the virus and even turning back representatives from some countries that had not complied with the rules and regulations guiding the games.
AS the games teed off, the world should expect all the trills, poignancy, showmanship, cry for success and failure, low and high moments in the Olympics as envisaged by Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin, when he initiated the first modern games in 1896 in Athens, Greece. From 14 countries and 13 sports, the Tokyo games has 206 National Olympic Committees, including Team Nigeria, competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in 46 sporting events till the games end on August 8.
TEAM Nigeria is participating in nine sports with a total of 61 athletes. Specially Nigeria is participating in canoeing (Sprint), table tennis, rowing, taekwondo, gymnastics, badminton, wrestling, basketball and athletics.
UNFORTUNATELY Nigeria is missing out in boxing, weightlifting and football which are the country’s powerhouses.
NIGERIA also did not qualify for the women’s 4 x 100 meters, 4x400m and the 4x400m relays. Significantly, the country missed out in its strong areas of strength, the men’s 4x400m and 4×400 relays.
BUT it is not all low for Nigeria in preparation as basketball team defeated the almighty USA and Argentina teams in friendly games and Ese Brume leaped 7.17metres in long jump to erase Chioma Ajunwa’s 25 years old African female long jump record of 7.12metres set in Atlanta ’96 games.
THERE are also high hopes on the world number one in female wrestling, Odunayo Adekuoroye from Ondo State, who had won many championships in the past and will be fighting in women 57kg category. Also, Blessing Okagbare will be competing in 100m and 200m.
HOWEVER, the challenges for this year’s Olympics are enormous, The Hope therefore calls on the organisers to be extra careful and roll out measures to protect the participants. All protocols of COVID-19 must be adhered to; there must be regular and sufficient tests to determine the status of athletes, officials and umpires, to control the spread of the virus.
ADDING to this, Nigeria’s contingent should not see the Olympics as a jamboree, but see it as an honour to represent their father’s land. They must work hard and surpass the Atlanta ’96 Games where Nigeria came home with two gold medals through Chioma Ajunwa long jump and men football. Also, they should strive to excel the Barcelona ’92 edition where Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa won silver in the relay and the Sydney 2000 edition where the women’s relay quartet won a silver medal in the 4x400m, but later upgraded to gold after a USA runner was apprehended for using drug.
TO say more, the team leader, Aruna Quadri and opening flag bearer, Odunayo Adekuoroye should know that all eyes will be on them, therefore, they must be good leaders to the entire ream and should represent Nigeria and Ondo State well. Nigerian participants should also conduct themselves well and shun any act that can bring shame and dishonor to the country. They should shun drugs and other acts that can lead to their disqualification.
FINALLY, the leader of the Nigerian contingents who doubles as the Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare should take the welfare of the athletes as top priority and not that of the officials. Having done much to send the athletes to various sports competitions across the world, the time for results is now by giving the athletes all attentions at the games.

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