Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first Olympic Gold Medalist, on Thursday advised Nigeria’s sports administrators to ensure adequate preparations of the athletes in order to make appreciable impact at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, Ajunwa also canvassed for foreign sponsorships for the athletes to ensure quality preparations ahead of the Games.
She said: “The government should start proper planning and realistic programmes for next year’s Olympic Games, as it has to do with prospective athletes that will represent Nigeria in events.
“This time around, government needs to come up with juicy and motivating offers such as scholarship awards in foreign countries, to expose the athletes and strengthen their preparations.
“Such exposure under the auspices of scholarship awards is required, to sharpen their skills with standard facilities and concentrated environment, to be in proper shape to compete and win medals.”
According to her, it is necessary for the government to make the best use of 2019 for preparations ahead of the competition, adding that such early training of the athletes is better and more rewarding than the fire brigade approach.
Ajunwa said: “The government must give priority to preparations for next year’s Olympics now, and ensure that Nigeria participate in the necessary build-up, while other arrangements are equally carried out.
“The scholarship awards given to me during my competition years were not implemented; I was being tossed around until I gave up, and that was not a good experience for me.
“Let there be a backup and follow up for scholarship awards of athletes, so that the beneficiary can concentrate because any default will affect the image and reputation of the nation.”
Ajunwa, Member of the Order of Niger, advised the national athletes to update their forms, adding that top performance in national competitions and trials would enhance their chances of good showing at the Games.
She said: “During my days, if I had waited on the government to send me to training tour, I wouldn’t have won the gold medal; so, the athletes should try on their own, after all their names first.”
NAN reports that the 2020 Summer Olympics organised by the International Olympic Committee will hold in Tokyo, Japan, from July to August.
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