A proud nation honours its own youths

Sports brought smiles for once to this presidential face again

For once I feel so proud being a Nigerian. I now recall when one of the paralympians who heard my FRCN Radio Link prediction that they would return with five gold medals but that the able bodied will return empty handed, he called me saying amen to the prayers. I tried making him understand, its not prayers but a scientific analysis of what is at stake.

On the eve of the opening ceremony of the paralympic games, he sent me an e-mail having gotten it the first time we spoke writing: “God had denied the able bodied medals of any colour for our own sake”. With hindsight, this is true.

These set of medals are the very first in any sport since the advent of this government. Falconets came fourth. The same week, Nigeria got a gold and silver in the Chess Olympiad. We have never had it this well.

These events have proven my analysis that there are only three sports federations in the country: Scrabble, Chess and Basketball. Scrabble has been dominating Africa and have the highest number of championships played per annum than any sports federations.

When President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan announced the value of the cash rewards for members of Nigeria's team to the Paralympics Games in London as well as the country's Under-20 female football team, the Falconets, who came fourth in the just held World Cup in Japan, I did not believe my eyes. Despite that a senior government official had squealed it some three hours before it was announced publicly.

President Jonathan announced the cash gifts at a well deserved reception for the paralympians and footballers.

Each member of the Under-20 female football team got N1 million while their coaches and handlers got N1.2 million each.

For the paralympians, those who won Gold medals got N5 million each while Silver medalists were awarded N3 million.

Bronze medalists have been govern N2 million each while those who did not win medals got N500,000 each.

Jonathan commended the athletes, adding: “You have done well and we are indeed grateful.”

He urged the officials to work towards restoring "the glorious days of our sports”

My only question is, how do we all translate this success to a higher realm and give hope and room for personal satisfaction for every paralympic or intending disabled athlete?