Nigerian athletes campaign in Glasgow empty-handed

The 2014 Commonwealth Games tagged Glasgow 2014 begins today (Wednesday) in Scotland with Nigerian athletes yet to receive their camping allowance. The sorry situation of the athletes summaries the poor preparation of the country in the sporting event seen as only next to the Olympics going by the number of countries and athletes that feature in it.

The Commonwealth Games is competed for by all countries under the former British colonial governance. Some of the other countries participating are in the Games are Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica and South Africa.

An association president who spoke with The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity on Tuesday said it would take a lot of individual effort for the country to make any impact in Scotland.

He said, “I prefer to criticise constructively when we are together in Abuja as officials because I am also part of the group by my position. The truth is that we have taken so many steps slowly and wrongly and nearly got to a standstill.

“As at this morning the athletes had not been paid for camping unless the situation changed a few hours ago but I should know if anything tangible has happened. They are yet to be paid for the camping in Lagos and Abuja. There are some associations that have been able to find a way around but the truth is that the federation heads have had to scratch here and there to make things work. I do hope that the recovery process being followed up the last few days could help change our fortune somehow when the competitions start.”

Our correspondent learnt that boxers who have eventually left for Scotland suffered two days delay after realising that they could not board their flights with the tickets in their possession. It was alleged that the sports ministry had deliberately frustrated the Nigeria Olympic Committee from taking over the athletes as it is traditionally done.

But the media assistant to the Minister of Sports Patrick Omorodion who also spoke with us on Tuesday said that people had taken delight to criticise the preparations with unfounded statements.

Omorodion said, “Somebody had lied that it was the federations that were funding the camping and then turned around to apologise. There have been countless numbers of falsehoods raised over the Commonwealth Games.

“I am aware that the NOC Secretary was holding meeting and working out details with the ministry officials before I left Abuja last week. If the ministry does not want to handover the athletes what then would the NOC Secretary be doing in Abuja with the minister and officials. I am sure that by the time the event starts the best picture will be seen rather than the unguarded comments.”

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