?
I had lost interest in any competitive sport until the surprising news of the Tigers’s qualification. Suddenly my interest was reawaken. The interest generated by the promising girl, Okagbare followed and now, I am ready for the Olympics. The memories of the 80’s and 90’s when you are glued to the television tracing with your eyes, Nigerian flag and the contestants’ names on the competitors’ table came back.
A week after, all the hope is fast disappearing. The way I see it is , we may come home empty handed without a single medal.Ludicrously,Nigerian officials and competitors still buy the age-long patronizing statement, ‘The Olympic is a about participation’ while the same countries peddling this slogan would start their preparation immediately an Olympic ends. No wonder, a Nigerian weightlifter came 8th,not even coming near the medals, but was celebrated for breaking the African and Commonwealth records! It is becoming clear to me that truly the performance of a nation at the Olympic is a reflection of the nation back home.

YES!!!

A damning indictment of the state of our country. Everything going downhill.

160 million and not a single medal.

Please befroe you go further in your throwing of bucks and casting of aspersions in your fit of misplaced agression , find out whom the current minister of sporst is and the people running NFA and you can see clearly on whom you can put the blame on, also find out who the NOC president, and other sports administrators. Please this has nothing do with GEJ.

kettykin: Please befroe you go further in your throwing of bucks and casting of aspersions in your fit of misplaced agression , find out whom the current minister of sporst is and the people running NFA and you can see clearly on whom you can put the blame on, also find out who the NOC president, and other sports administrators. Please this has nothing do with GEJ.

I had to go over the posts 4 times to find out exactly who and where someone has blamed GEJ.
I know people defend GEJ blindly after things are said. However, this is going to a new level now, defending him even before blames are apportioned.

It's the minister's fault but not GEJ's. For some strange reason, it's not GEJ's duty to ensure that the appointed Minister is competent.
Let's blame the incompetent minister but not the guy who employed him. Gosh!


@OP

You are right in every sense.

It might have more to do with Yar'Adua's minster.
Our athletes should have started preparing once the 2008 Olympics were over. GEJ's minister has only been there for 1yr.

@poster, but I have one question, what differentiates all those athletes and medallists from you?? Do they have two heads? Is anything wrong with your arms or legs? You see this whole ideas of guys sitting down behind computers and castigating the rest of the country for not going out there and winning gold medals is the very problem we have. When will YOU take personal responsibility??

Rossikk: @poster, but I have one question, what differentiates all those athletes and medallists from you?? Do they have two heads? Is anything wrong with your arms or legs? You see this whole ideas of guys sitting down behind computers and castigating the rest of the country for not going out there and winning gold medals is the very problem we have. When will YOU take personal responsibility??

The OP didn't blame the athletes, rather he's putting the blame on the country in general. We can't deny the fact that just about everything in this country is crumbling and sport seems to be the last casualty. It's unfortunate that people like you will keep peddling the old long lie that everything is ok. I pity this country.

afam4eva:
The OP didn't blame the athletes, rather he's putting the blame on the country in general. We can't deny the fact that just about everything in this country is crumbling and sport seems to be the last casualty. It's unfortunate that people like you will keep peddling the old long lie that everything is ok. I pity this country.

I wasn't blaming the athletes either. I was blaming the poster. You say 'everything is crumbling' but I don't see 'everything crumbling'. I just see people like you claiming everything is crumbling while sat on your fat assses doing nothing to assist the country. Sports being one example. WHY ARE YOU not an Olympic athlete? You sit behind your computer expecting others to go and win medals for you and when they don't you say the country is crumbling. It is YOU that's crumbling. You and all those well fed middle class Nigerians who were raised to believe that sports is for paupers, and the underclass. Well guess what? The underclass lack your nutrition, strength and confidence to take on the world. It is the well fed middle classes, fed on beef, chicken and cornflakes all their lives that should be out there competing for gold on the world stage, and even working in sports administration, training etc, but no, after attending our elite secondary schools, we all abandoned sports (no matter how good we were at it) to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, IT specialists, and then when the dregs of society are left to be our sportsmen and officials, we moan about a ''crumbling country'' when they don't bring home the gold. But it is you that is crumbling, not Nigeria. Go back to your air-conditioned office.

nateevs:


I had to go over the posts 4 times to find out exactly who and where someone has blamed GEJ.
I know people defend GEJ blindly after things are said. However, this is going to a new level now, defending him even before blames are apportioned.

It's the minister's fault but not GEJ's. For some strange reason, it's not GEJ's duty to ensure that the appointed Minister is competent.
Let's blame the incompetent minister but not the guy who employed him. Gosh!


@OP

You are right in every sense.

Why would any reasonable fellow blame GEJ when, in fact, it was Nigeria’s despicable society that produced GEJ.

Rossikk:

I wasn't blaming the athletes either. I was blaming the poster. You say 'everything is crumbling' but I don't see 'everything crumbling'. I just see people like you claiming everything is crumbling while sat on your fat assses doing nothing to assist the country. Athletics being one example. WHY ARE YOU not an Olympic athlete? You sit behind your computer expecting others to go and win medals for you and when they don't you say the country is crumbling. It is YOU that's crumbling. You and all those well fed middle class Nigerians who were raised to believe that sports is for paupers, and the underclass. Well guess what? The underclass lack your nutrition, strength and confidence to take on the world. It is the well fed middle classes, fed on meat, chicken and cornflakes all their lives that should be out there competing for gold on the world stage, and even working in sports administration, training etc, but no, after secondary school, we all abandoned sports, to become lawyers, doctors, engineers, IT specialists, and then when the dregs of society are left to be our sportsmen and officials, we moan about a ''crumbling country'' when they don't bring home the gold. But it is you that is crumbling, not Nigeria.

Must everyone be an athlete to effect a change? We're talking of the general enonomic and social life of Nigeria and you asking us why we did not go into sports. Now, you tell me one facet of the Nigerian life that is working.

@ op, your size no dey for boot?, abi which sports are you good in?

afam4eva:
Must everyone be an athlete to effect a change?

You must have a large enough pool of talented sportsmen available in order to present your best to the world. You cannot have the strongest, best educated, best fed among us all shunning sports, and then expect the underclass to go and get gold for you at the Olympics. Have you ever spoken to one of these our sports officials or athletes? Most of them can hardly string a coherent sentence together. I mean, who are we fooling here? I know at least TEN guys from secondary school who were so good at soccer that had they carried on, they would have been world beaters. But what happened? They all graduated and went off to university, and are now professionals in law, engineering etc. So who are we fooling here? Until WE, the middle classes take sports seriously, do not expect those who attended Isale Eko grammar school and had no idea where their next meal was coming from, to attend the Olympics and bring home gold. Not gonna happen.

Now, you tell me one facet of the Nigerian life that is working.

Working in what sense?? I went to work today, had a productive day, and got back home safely, had a nice meal, and played with my kids. Even had time for a beer and some pepper soup courtesy of wifey. Same as millions of Nigerians. That's a lot of facets working right there. I've no idea what you're on about.

Dede1:

Why would any reasonable fellow blame GEJ when, in fact, it was Nigeria’s despicable society that produced GEJ.

of course they should blame gej, he was slow in that 100 meters sprint which Nigeria lost

Rossikk:

Working in what sense?? I went to work today, had a productive day, and got back home safely, had a nice meal, and played with my kids. Even had time for a beer and some pepper soup courtesy of wifey. Same as millions of Nigerians. That's a lot of facets working right there. I've no idea what you're on about.

While you're eating a nice meal, don't forget that millions of Nigerians can't afford to eat a 3-square meal despite the fact that we're blessed with ample natural resources.

Don't also forget that millions of Nigerians are living in fear as a result of the deadly boko haram second who have vowed to send more innocent people to the other side of the divide.

The problem with people like you is that you think that as long as you can afford 3_square meals, everyone else can go to hell with their whining.

kunyeo: . . .but was celebrated for breaking the African and Commonwealth records!

At OP: you are an id[i]i[/i]o[b]t[/b]! An evil-minded, wicked, evil-eyed Nigerian suffering from PHD syndrome compounded by low self-esteem and ingratitude. . .those young men and women representing us at the Olympics are your betters and deserve our approbation and encouragement, they are competing and giving their best for Nigeria.

Get out from behind your keypad and go and break some African and Commonwealth records, before you come here to complain.

afam4eva:
While you're eating a nice meal, don't forget that millions of Nigerians can't afford to eat a 3-square meal despite the fact that we're blessed with ample natural resources.

We are not the only country with poor people, and please don't mention this ample resources business. Every country is blessed with ample resources, even Mali. But you don't find them habitually chastising their country at every turn. The best way to help poor people is to set up a charity and contribute with your friends and associates. That's what private citizens did in the UK in Victorian times, down to today. People didn't sit around rubbishing their country. They did something. What stops you? Or you feel better coming online to call Nigeria a 'failed state'? Who does that help?

Don't also forget that millions of Nigerians are living in fear as a result of the deadly boko haram second who have vowed to send more innocent people to the other side of the divide.

The problem with people like you is that you think that as long as you can afford 3_square meals, everyone else can go to hell with their whining.

The problem with people like you is that because some people have problems, we should disregard everything else that makes life worthwhile and meaningful. Oh, and I don't see millions of Nigerians living in fear of Boko Haram. The overwhelming majority of Nigerians are going about their business in absolute safety without fear of anybody.

afam4eva:
The OP didn't blame the athletes, rather he's putting the blame on the country in general. We can't deny the fact that just about everything in this country is crumbling and sport seems to be the last casualty. It's unfortunate that people like you will keep peddling the old long lie that everything is ok. I pity this country.

afam4eva:
Must everyone be an athlete to effect a change? We're talking of the general enonomic and social life of Nigeria and you asking us why we did not go into sports. Now, you tell me one facet of the Nigerian life that is working.

Good point

Rossikk: @poster, but I have one question, what differentiates all those athletes and medallists from you?? Do they have two heads? Is anything wrong with your arms or legs? You see this whole ideas of guys sitting down behind computers and castigating the rest of the country for not going out there and winning gold medals is the very problem we have. When will YOU take personal responsibility??

that is the mistake most peo
ple make with this kind of simplistic assertion.All of us (160 million nigerians) cant
go and represent the country ,so we. choose some.we have different abilities and if called in future based on my area of expert ise to represent the nation ,would gladly do it and if i fail ,i take respons ibility.

aletheia:
At OP: you are an id[i]i[/i]o[b]t[/b]! An evil-minded, wicked, evil-eyed Nigerian suffering from PHD syndrome compounded by low self-esteem and ingratitude. . .those young men and women representing us at the Olympics are your betters and deserve our approbation and encouragement, they are competing and giving their best for Nigeria.

Get out from behind your keypad and go and break some African and Commonwealth records, before you come here to complain.

you made your point;but you neednt go to the exte nt of pouring so much venon on me.i have a right to my opinion.thanks

kunyeo:

you made your point;but you neednt go to the exte nt of pouring so much venon on me.i have a right to my opinion.thanks

I apologise for that. I was highly peeved by your post which seemed to be so uncharitable and ungracious to the Nigerian athletes. But we Nigerians need to stop pulling our Country down. The countries we admire did not get where they are now with their citizens caviling at every little thing.

Be a positive force for change and good in your own little corner. You sound like a reasonable chap but it seems you 've fallen into the trap of denigrating this country, whereas the reality is that Nigeria is not as bad as some would have us believe. Cheers and regards.

This House Has Fallen

Never expected anything from the lads - their best simply is not just enough. The worst of it is how we keep deceiving ourselves using all avenues of the media. Things are really not going the way they should and our leaders should take the bulk of the blame.

When you are done arguing I will comment.I comment my reserve for now.

otokx: Never expected anything from the lads - their best simply is not just enough. The worst of it is how we keep deceiving ourselves using all avenues of the media. Things are really not going the way they should and our leaders should take the bulk of the blame.

I tuned in on friday evening to Channels TV to hear what the Nigerian media was saying of the defeat the team experienced at the hands of the USA team. I just dey laugh . . the commentator went into some brain dead analysis of how it was a "win-win" situation for Nigeria. The guy next to him was all that Nigeria lost but the other guy insisted that it was not that simple. I could not believe my ears.

@kobojunkie

The problem it has now been revealed is the very Nigerians that constitute Nigeria always expecting a miracle out of nothing and refusing to do anything.

Aren't we ashamed as a nation?
Talents abound in this country of ours just as one would find in any nation but harnessing them requires deliberate and calculated programmes.
Where are the training centres with qualified trainers as one would find in advanced countries?
How are talents identified and nurtured? what are the incentives for one to tow the line of sports?
All these and perhaps more questions need to be answered before olympic medals can come tumbling in.
You can fluke one or two but you can never be a consistent winner without adequate and controlled preparation.

D performance of our athletes at d olympics is disgraceful. Many of d athletes dat have represented us so far would have won medals if dey competed 4 other nations. Don't 4get dat Our Olympics starts mainly in d second week. We have no excuse 4 not winning medals in a couple of sports. Our athletes don't go to d world champ of various sports, and we expect dem to win medals against seasoned campaigners.

If we had won a medal, Goodluck would have wasted billions in creating a committee to look into the victory and there would have been a lavish celebration / welcome party..promising the athletes without fulfilment. And some Nigerians would call the god of the sport a Nigerian.

The govt officials would tell us they spent 80 million on the celebration - but we all would know that more than half of that is in their pockets and still, we wont do anything about it.

Maybe it's better we dont win anything sef...but sad though.

There is general indiscipline in the land so what do you expect from our contigent if not failure? There is need for total overhaul of government in nigeria at all levels for things to return to normal.