Sports
Commonwealth Games: Abuja Marathon’s MD, in Birmingham, says Nigerians can dominate global athletics
The Managing Director of Abuja International Marathon (AIM) Zsuzsanna Ogunmiloyo, who is in Birmingham the host city of the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games to support the Team Nigeria contingent, on Sunday posited that Nigeria has what it takes to dominate athletics at the global level with a well-structured elite athlete development programme.
In a statement signed by Abuja International Marathon (AIM) Race Director Olukayode Thomas who also heads the Media and Publicity, Ogunmiloyo also commends Sports Minister Sunday Dare for prioritizing athletes’ welfare.
Ogunmiloyo, who moved from venue to venue, spent quality time with weightlifters and their coaches.
Her major takeaway is that Team Nigeria can dominate the sprints, quarter-mile, jumps, relays, hurdles and other events because the Caribbean countries and Americans that dominate those events today share similar traits with Southern Nigerians, while East Africans that dominate the middle, long distances and marathon share similar traits with Northern Nigerians.
Said Ogunmiloyo, ‘’ I believe that with a properly funded and well-monitored elite athlete development programme, Nigeria has what to dominate athletics in the world.’’
Using the men and women marathon as examples, Ogunmiloyo said Ugandan Victor Kiplangant’s winning time of 2;10 minutes would have been achieved by Nigeria if we support Nigerian marathoners.
‘’ The belief that Kenyans win all marathons is not true. The reason why they win most is that they have a good elite development programme and Kenyan see road races and marathons as a business.
“The winner of the men’s event is from Uganda, his winning time of 2;10 minutes is what our men can achieve if they had the support they needed. About 30 years ago, our men like Abass Muhammed and Yohanna Waziri were running 2;14. So, if in the last three decades we have proper elite development programmes, our men will be running 2;10 minutes and below’’.
Ogunmiloyo noted that five of the top ten finishers in the men’s event are not even from East Africa, saying: ‘’even in the women’s event the winner Jessica Stenson is from Australia. She beat Kenyan Margaret Muriuki to win the gold medal and four of the top ten finishers in the women’s event are not from East Africa’’.
Ogunmiloyo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Unicentral Resources Generation Limited, commends Team Nigeria for being in the top ten on the medal table.
‘’Being among the top ten in the Commonwealth is highly commendable. It is not an easy feat, I am proud to be a Nigerian and besides we are the number one African nation on the medal table beating South Africa, Kenya, and others’’.
She also commends the Sports Minister for prioritizing athletes’ welfare, ‘’ the athletes are happy that their allowances and other entitlements have been paid while medallists are rewarded immediately medals are won. This is commendable I really appreciate the good gesture,’’ said Ogunmiloyo.
Sports
NIS kicks against Duplication
Joel Ajayi
The Director-General National Institute for sports Professor Olawale Moronkola has said everything is being done to reposition the NIS, even as all efforts is being made to ensure the Institute fulfill its core mandate without distractions .
Speaking in Lagos after a tour of on going projects at the Institute, Professor Moronkola said” We are strategizing and rebranding to bring better service to Nigeria. The Minister has called for our position on a move by some people to set up parallel NIS.
We have written to the Corporate Affairs Commission to disassociate the NIS from this group. I believe these people are just testing the waters. We shall ensure that they do not distract us. Only Government has the power to approve such an Institute after going through the normal channels of appropriate legislation. Alot of things have been revived at the NIS with new courses, facilities are being upgraded.
We have set up a state of the art gym mini stadium, New Hostel, New lecture theater are under construction, accomodations has been upscaled, library well equiped. We are managing the little resources made available by government and commend Government for all the support.
He further said ” Some individuals have approached us for collaboration and we shall make the best of it to impact sports development in Nigeria. Staff need to be equipped so that they can pass the knowledge to other people. We are rejigging our curriculum and inviting seasoned professionals to take up courses at the Institute. People should support the NIS to achieve its core mandate and not working at cross purposes.
“We shall continue to do our best to ensure that the NIS meets the hope and aspirations of Nigerians”
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