We Need to Change How Athletes Are Chosen for Olympics – Sport Minister

As Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to make waves, Minister of Sports Development John Enoh has called for a sweeping reform of the country’s sporting federations to enhance future results.

In an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today ‘program on Wednesday, August 14, Enoh expressed his regret over team Nigeria’s poor showing in the Olympic games and he criticized the leadership of various sports federations. He stressed that a major overhaul is needed to prepare the athletes and achieve success in future international competitions.

“I’ve always stated that we need to reform our federations,” Enoh said. “I am also glad that these discussions are going on now. And I need this discussion to continue. Let it not be limited to the reaction because we didn’t get a medal.

The Minister pointed out that the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) was in a state of disarray when he took office in August 2023, and none of the sporting federations had well-equipped training facilities. He suggested that a state of emergency should be declared in sports development to address these issues.

Enoh acknowledged his own limitations in enacting change within the federations, as their leaders are elected by congresses and serve four-year terms that align with the Olympic cycle. He noted that his attempts to influence federations’ decisions are often seen as interference, despite his role in overseeing international competitions.

“It is the federations that pick the athletes that they think are competitive enough for any game.

“The federations are very strong in their defence of what decisions they make…these federations guard what they do so jealously that any attempt by any minister to reach out in things like this is considered interference.” Enoh said

The Minister described Nigeria’s failure to secure a single medal at the Olympics, despite competing in 12 events, as a “very sad” outcome. He attributed the lack of success to insufficient preparation rather than a lack of funding, revealing that over ₦8 billion was spent on qualifying for the Olympics rather than on adequate training.

The minister also indicated that if he had decided to withdraw Nigeria from the Olympics due to inadequate preparation, it would have led to criticism.

Enoh assured that if investigations reveal any sabotage of Nigeria’s Olympic efforts, there would be consequences. However, he also admitted his constraints regarding the dismissal or disciplinary actions against federation leaders, many of whom are experienced but have consistently failed to deliver medals.