London Olympics: Team Nigeria good to go

It all started more than 2,700 years ago in ancient Greece as part of a religious festival held in honour of Zeus, king of the gods. It was staged every four years at Olympia Southwest Greece. The games grew and many came to participate or as spectators but in 393 CE, it was abolished by a Christian emperor, Theodoius 1, due to its pagan influences. About 1500 years later, French man Baron Pierre de Coubertin  began the revival of the games and founded the international Olympic Committee in 1894 with the Olympic motto  Citius, Altiud, Fortius, a Latin expression meaning faster, higher, stronger, and from one Olympic to another that motto keeps ringing true as world records are set, broken and the Olympic ceremonies and franchise keeps getting bigger, colorful and festive.
The elaborate festivity associated with the Olympics has turned London into the most exciting place on the planet to be right now. This is the third time the country is hosting the games. First in 1908, then in 1948. The timing for London to host the game again could not be more perfect as it has been a long time since Brits had the opportunity to bask in their Britishness and as the world visits, they are pulling out all the stops.

A look at the Olympic village with the flag of 205 countries on display indicating their participation is enough to send the Olympic fever running through your veins and the welcoming ceremonies formally welcoming athletes and officials to the residential area is designed to kindle the patriotic spirits of participating countries.  Every country raises its flag upon entering the residential compound, where athletes from all over the world eat, sleep, work out and relax during the two weeks of the Olympic Games.

Team Nigeria’s first Olympic appearance was in 1952 and has made a total of 14 appearances. At Beijing 2008 it was ranked 60th and has won a total of 23 medals. The grand hoisting of Nigeria flag at the Olympic village  which took place on Tuesday, July 24 was breathtaking. Whilst the national anthem played at the background, the flag rose gradually amid cheers from the athletes and Nigerians living in the UK who came out to show their support.  The Nigerians present were certainly hoping they would hear the national anthem again and the next time would involve a podium, athletes and gold medals. Ex-international athlete and one of the coaches of Team Nigeria, Yussuf Alli stated; “More of Nigerian national anthem will be played during the Games. This is because the athletes are raring to go. They are determined to prove themselves and make the country proud. The cordial relationship between the NSC and the NOC is an indication of good things to come,”.

In attendance were, Nigeria’s Chef de Mission, Mayor of Enfield, Mrs Kate Anolue, Nigeria’s High commission to the UK, His Excellency Dr Dalhatu Tafidah, Dr Patrick Ekeji, NOC President, and Engr Sani M. Ndanusa. Burundi and Uganda also held their ceremony at the same time.

London 2012 is set to be quite dramatic. A few days into the summer game, controversy is already springing up. First was the Olympic flag mix –up which is set to make Olympic history as major insult. The mishap occurred during the women soccer game at Hampden park in Glasgow Scotland when a video introducing the north Korean players showed their faces next to a south Korean flag. The North Korean team walked off the pitch causing an hour delay of the game. Technically, since there was no signed cease- fire declaration after the Korean war, south and North Korea are still at war and the team felt insulted hence their action. The Olympic organisers called it a “mistake” and offered an apology.

Though Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou offered an apology for her oversight, she learnt the hard way that sometimes apology is not good enough to rectify the harm done. Her dream of participating in the games was quashed when she was kicked out of her national team for mocking African migrants on twitter. Her offending tweet  which was referring to an outbreak of West Nile virus in Athens reads;” with so many Africans in Greece.....at least the west Nile mosquitoes will eat homemade food!!!” the west Nile virus was first discovered in Uganda  but has now spread into Europe. Papachristou, 23, tweet caused uproar and many social network users did not find her joke funny. Realising her career and hard work was about going down the drains, she issued an apology “ “I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account.

“I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or encroach on human rights.

“My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values.

“Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.

“I would like to apologise to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career.

“Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family.”

Team spirit is what the Olympic promotes and part of its creed encourages taking part in the game over winning  but some in team GB seems to be participating under duress  and their actions are being used as a political triumph and not a struggle contrary to the creed.

Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke both on the women’s squad from Scotland refused to sing at the opening match against New Zealand on Wednesday night. International midfielder Little, 22, said she made a “personal choice “not to sing it before her Olympic matches because she is Scottish. Defender Ifeoma Dieke, who was born in Massachusetts, US, to Nigerian parents but raised in Scotland, is yet to give her reason for not singing the anthem though it is obvious that verse 6 of the nation’s anthem would be very difficult for any scot to sing. 

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring
May he sedition hush
And like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush
God save the King

On the men’s squad Captain Ryan Giggs and fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen all stood in conspicuous silence before the Olympics’ first British men’s football match during an inspiring rendition of God Save The Queen. Their actions have been regarded by Brits as an insult, with hundreds calling the Welsh players decision “Disgraceful” and requesting for him to step down as Captain.