| From
Sydney Olympics to Athens 2004
By Sun News
Sunday, July 25, 2004
As the country prepares for this year’s Olympics, tagged
Athens 2004, it is noteworthy that the 4 x 400 metres gold
medal the United States (US) robbed Nigeria of through the
use of performance-enhancing drugs, which placed the country
on the second slot in the 2000 edition, has been stripped
from the US quartet and returned to Nigeria, four years after
the fraud was committed in Sydney.
The lesson in this historic development is not much of the
laurel, but the underlining fact that cheating is antithetical
to the spirit of sportsmanship which the Olympic Games engender.
The essence of sporting competitions is not to win at all
costs, but to socially interact, build strength, character,
discipline and possibly win trophies as crowns for their countries.
We commend the International Association of Athletics Federation
(IAAF) for declaring Nigeria the real winners of the race.
It is unfortunate that some athletes employ all sorts of strategies
to ensure that they emerge victorious at competitions when
they know full well the consequences of such actions if apprehended.
This kind of goal runs counter to expected norms at such friendly
meetings. The IAAF should go further to sanction the US for
this despicable conduct. In the same breath, the US should
apologise to Nigerians for denying them the glorious moment
that would have climaxed our 2000 Olympics celebrations.
As the countdown to Athens 2004 which kicks off next month
begins, prospective athletes should desist from activities
that would bring dishonour to their persons and countries
they represent by being conscious of the current changing
fortunes concerning Sydney 2000 that has put Nigeria on a
historical-cum-triumphal sporting platform. The success of
any sporting fiesta transcends the number of medals won or
not won, but national participation and athletes’ representational
recognition and joy.
We wish the country’s team to this year’s Olympics
festival success and urge them to be of good conduct in and
out of the venues of the exercise. They should see themselves
as ambassadors and not just sportsmen and women. Officials
accompanying them should avoid organisational scandals as
had occasionally happened in past regional and international
encounters. The Ministry of Sports should ensure that all
that is required to make the country excel is put in place
before the contingent leaves our shores. We have the talents
to conquer the world!
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