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I first wrote this piece soon after our forgettable performance at London 2012 Olympics. My hope then was that the information would help to properly align the focus of our sports authorities in what should have been a four-year preparation for Rio 2016. But, alas, we have learnt nothing, being as unprepared for this prestigious international sports event in the next few months as was the case for the last one four years ago.
The National Olympic Committees of Nigeria and Jamaica, respectively, were among the 204 that competed for medals at London 2012. But while the Jamaican contingent of 50 athletes proudly returned home with four times their country’s total haul of three medals at Jamaica’s 1948 debut in the same London, the 53 athletes from Nigeria were unable to improve on Nigeria’s zero-medal debut performance at Helsinki 1952.
Since 1948, Jamaica has won a total of 67 medals (17 Gold, 29 Silver, and 21 Bronze). Apart from one medal in cycling, all the other 66 medals have been in individual and relay sprints in which Jamaica rules the world. On the other hand, in 60 years Nigeria has only been credited with a total of 23 medals (3 Gold, 8 Silver, and 12 Bronze) out of which only 13 are in athletics. Others are in football, boxing, weightlifting, and taekwondo. Significantly, while Jamaica has shown a steady improvement in its Olympic history, Nigeria’s performance has been remarkably unpredictable and epileptic.
For every Jamaican in the world, there are 55 Nigerians. In terms of geographic size, Nigeria is several times as big. Both countries share tropical climate, but Nigeria has four types. Nigeria’s topography is also more varied with wider ethnic diversity and human morphology. We should not only be competitive in a wide range of sports, there is evidence that we should consistently be world beaters in athletics. But, of all the countries of the world with a population of over 150 million each at London 2012 only Nigeria and Pakistan did not win a single medal in any event.
http://www.punchng.com/nigeria-not-j...-rule-sprints/
The National Olympic Committees of Nigeria and Jamaica, respectively, were among the 204 that competed for medals at London 2012. But while the Jamaican contingent of 50 athletes proudly returned home with four times their country’s total haul of three medals at Jamaica’s 1948 debut in the same London, the 53 athletes from Nigeria were unable to improve on Nigeria’s zero-medal debut performance at Helsinki 1952.
Since 1948, Jamaica has won a total of 67 medals (17 Gold, 29 Silver, and 21 Bronze). Apart from one medal in cycling, all the other 66 medals have been in individual and relay sprints in which Jamaica rules the world. On the other hand, in 60 years Nigeria has only been credited with a total of 23 medals (3 Gold, 8 Silver, and 12 Bronze) out of which only 13 are in athletics. Others are in football, boxing, weightlifting, and taekwondo. Significantly, while Jamaica has shown a steady improvement in its Olympic history, Nigeria’s performance has been remarkably unpredictable and epileptic.
For every Jamaican in the world, there are 55 Nigerians. In terms of geographic size, Nigeria is several times as big. Both countries share tropical climate, but Nigeria has four types. Nigeria’s topography is also more varied with wider ethnic diversity and human morphology. We should not only be competitive in a wide range of sports, there is evidence that we should consistently be world beaters in athletics. But, of all the countries of the world with a population of over 150 million each at London 2012 only Nigeria and Pakistan did not win a single medal in any event.
http://www.punchng.com/nigeria-not-j...-rule-sprints/
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015