Team Nigeria In Search of Medals StatiSense ® - Wale Micaiah ©

Sport is no longer a recreational activity but: Tool for national unity Peace Productive engagement of Youths Tourism Another show of organization Foreign investment, etc. One major thing that united Nigerians in the 90’s was Football, especially when we won the Atlanta96 Gold medal in Football. That medal was worth more than all other medals put together.

Team Nigeria experience at the London2012 Olympic Games is the worst in recent times. N2Billion spent, 0 Medal to show for it.

Think about a country that invested N2Billion into a Project and got nothing…what would happen to the company, the employees, and the Management? The sports include: Athletics, Canoeing, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Weightlifting Boxing, Para- Athletics, Para-Table Tennis and Powerlifting.

How has it been with the Olympics? 1952 1952 1952 1952 1952 Nigeria first competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. With 10 Athletes, Nigeria participated in Long jump, High jump, 4x100m, 4x400m, 100m, 200m and 400m No Medal!

In 1956, with 11 Athletes participated in Triple jump, Long jump, High jump, 4x100m, 4x400m and 100m >>>>>>>>>>>No Medal! In 1964, with 18 Athletes (2 Females and 16 Males) participated in 2 sports; Boxing and Athletics. MAIYEGUN, Nojim won a Bronze medal in 67 - 71kg (light-middleweight) 1 Medal!

In 1972, with 25 Athletes (5 Females & 20 Males) participated in Boxing & Athletics IKHOURIA, Isaac won a Bronze medal in 75 - 81kg (light-heavyweight) >>>>>>>>>>>1 Medal! In 1980, with 44 Athletes (6 Females & 38 Males) participated in Boxing, Football, Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting >>>>>>>>>>>No Medal! In 1984, with 32 Athletes (2 Females & 30 Males) participated in Boxing, Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting. EGBUNIKE Innocent, PETERS Rotimi, UGBUSIEN Moses and UTI Sunday won a Bronze medal in the 4x400m relay, while KONYEGWACHIE, Peter won a Silver medal in 54 - 57kg (featherweight) >>>>>>>>>>>2 Medals!

In 1988, with 69 Athletes (8 Females & 61 Males) participated in Tennis, Judo, Boxing, Wrestling, Athletics, Football, Table Tennis and Weightlifting. >>>>>>>>>>>No Medal! In 1992, with 53 Athletes (21 Females & 32 Males) participated in Athletics, Boxing, Wrestling, Handball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Judo and Weightlifting. 4 Medals! Silver in 4 x 100m Bronze in 4 x 100m OLAPADE Adenikan, CHIDI Imoh, KAYODE Oluyemi & EZINWA Davidson IDEHEN Faith, ONYALI Mary, OPARA-THOMPSON & UTONDU Beatrice IGBINEGHU, Richard won Silver in the + 91kg (super heavyweight) and IZONRITEI, David won Silver 81 - 91kg (heavyweight)

In 1996, with 65 Athletes (16 Females & 49 Males) participated in Athletics, Football, Boxing, Badminton, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Tennis, Judo and Weightlifting. >>>>>>>>>>>6 Medals! ONYALI, Mary Women 200m Bronze OGUNKOYA, Falilat 400m AFOLABI, Bisi 4x400m relay Silver OPARA, Charity YUSUF, Fatima AJUNWA, Chioma long jump Gold DOKIWARI, Duncan Men + 91kg (super heavyweight) Football Team football

In 2000, with 83 Athletes (39 Females & 44 Males) participated in Athletics, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Judo and Weightlifting >>>>>>>>>>>3 Medals! ALOZIE, Gloria Women 100m hurdles Silver AWAZIE, Nduka Men 4x400m relay BADA, Sunday CHUKWU, Clement GADZAMA, Fidelis MONYE, Jude UDO OBONG, Enefiok OGBEIFO, Ruth 75kg Weightlifting

In 2004, with 70 Athletes (46 Females & 24 Males) participated in Athletics, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Judo, Basketball, Swimming, Taekwondo and Weightlifting >>>>>>>>>>>2 Medals! ALIU, Deji Men 4x100m relay Bronze EGBELE, Aaron EMEDOLU, Uchenna FASUBA, Olusoji AUDU, Musa 4x400m relay GODDAY, James UDO OBONG, Enefiok WEIGOPWA, Saul

In 2008, with 74 Athletes (37 Females & Males) participated in Athletics, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, Table Tennis, Judo, Basketball, Swimming, Taekwondo and Weightlifting >>>>>>>>>>>4 Medals! IDOKO, Franca Women 4x100m relay Bronze ISMAILA, Halimat KEMASUODE, Gloria OSAYOMI, Oludamola OKAGBARE, Blessing long jump Football Team Men football Silver CHUKWUMERIJE, Chika + 80 kg

The London 2012 Olympic Games In 2012, with 51 Athletes (20 Females & 31 Males) participated in Basketball, Table Tennis, Athletics, Weightlifting, Canoe Slalom, Boxing, Wrestling and Taekwondo>>>>>>>>>>>No Medals! Games Athletes Athletics 23 Basketball 12 Boxing 3 Canoe Slalom 1 Table Tennis 4 Taekwondo 2 Weightlifting Wrestling Grand Total 51 General reports is 55 Athletes, but information on London2012 Website is 51

Summary Nigeria participated in 12 of the 30 Olympics Games Total 484 unique participants in all 30 Games. However, we’ve had 605 entries Highest entries of 83 Athletes in 2000 Olympics with 3 Silver medals Nigeria has won 23 Medals – 2 Gold, 9 Silver & 12 Bronze medals With 23 Medals, Nigeria is placed 63rd in the Olympic medal table Of the 12 Olympic games, Nigeria did not win medals in 1952, 1956, 1980, 1988 and 2012 Atlanta 96 Olympics was the most successful Olympics with 6 Medals – 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals Participated in the following Games: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Handball, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Weightlifting & Wrestling

Summary (Contd.) We have only won medals in: Boxing, Athletics, Football, Weightlifting & Taekwondo Performed best in Football & Long Jump in Atlanta 96 with a gold medal each Most consistent performance in 4x100m & 4x400m relay MAIYEGUN, Nojim was the first medalist in an Olympic game (1964) KONYEGWACHIE, Peter was the first Silver medalist (1984) AJUNWA, Chioma was the first to win an individual gold Segun Toriola (Table Tennis) has featured in 6 Olympic Games starting from 1992 The trio of Udo Obong Enefiok, Falilat Ogunkoya and Mary Onyali are the most decorated Nigerian Olympians Udo Obong Enefiok & Falilat Ogunkoya – 1 Silver & Bronze medals each, Mary Onyali – 2 Bronze medals

Summary (Contd.) The Men’s Team have done better than their female counterpart with 14 of the total medals The youngest Nigeria Olympian is Barbara Diribe, at 15 participated in the 1992 Olympic games (Handball) The Oldest Nigeria Olympians are the duo of Vivian Chukwuemeka (Athletics) and Segun Toriola (Table Tennis), at 37years The 1992 Team was the youngest Nigerian Team to an Olympic game with overall average of 22.2years – 4 Medals While the 1956 Team was the oldest with an average of 26.8years The 2012 Team average age is 25.4years – No Medal There is a high +ve correlation between Team age and Medal won Athletes, Boxing and Football are Nigeria’s area of Strength

Summaries Event G S B Total + 80 kg 1 + 91kg (super heavyweight) 2 100m hurdles 200m 400m 4x100m relay 3 4 4x400m relay 54 - 57kg (featherweight) 67 - 71kg (light-middleweight) 75 - 81kg (light-heavyweight) 75kg 81 - 91kg (heavyweight) football long jump Grand Total 9 12 23 Olympic Edition Medal 1964 1 1972 1984 2 1992 4 1996 6 2000 3 2004 2008 Grand Total 23 Edition Gold Silver Bronze Total 1964 1 1972 1984 2 1992 3 4 1996 6 2000 2004 2008 9 12 23 Sport Gold Silver Bronze Grand Total Athletics 1 4 8 13 Boxing 3 6 Football 2 Taekwondo Weightlifting 9 12 23 Gender Gold Silver Bronze Total Men 1 6 7 14 Women 3 5 9 Grand Total 2 12 23

Athletics – Long distance Swimming / Canoeing

1 Federal Ministry of Youths & Sports 14 Sports Federations/Associations 36 States Commissions of Sports 774 Local Government Areas Over 15,000 Schools (Pry/Sec) Over 600 Tertiary Institutions Over 80Million Youths 162Million People Countless Medals

National Sports Festival (NSF) Nigeria University Games (NUGA) Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) National Colleges of Education Games (NACEGA) Secondary School Games Principals’ Cup Inter-house Sports Inter-local Government Games Inter-Street Games MTN/Glo Marathon Mobil Track & Field, etc

Nigeria is too loaded to be searching for Gold medal like lost riches. If Political Parties can strategize for 2015 Elections in 2011, why are we not planning for Sports the same way? Imagine Swimming Pools made readily available in each LGA Imagine equipped Sports Centres in every Schools

N2Billion spent and no medal to show for it We are not short of Resources, but short of Good intention to do what is right! N2Billion spent and no medal to show for it If we decide to do nothing Now, 2016 Olympics is just around the corner 6 months Preparation cannot guarantee a Medal

If we Prepare early! I See Medals! Medals are won long before competitions begin We can surely do better If we Prepare early! I See Medals! Nigerians Can, Lets Start Now!

Arise O Compatriot!

Data source: www.london2012.com www.olympics.org www.nigeriaolympiccommittee.org/ Freely share, freely use and freely acknowledge the source – © Wale Micaiah Analysis by: Wale Micaiah e: walegate@yahoo.com m: 08078001800 b: walemicaiah.blog.com f: Wale Micaiah t: @WaleMicaiah w. www.statisense.info