Get Guardian on GoogleThe National Sports Commission (NSC) has explained that only five athletes were registered to take part in track and field event in the ongoing Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
There were reports on Wednesday that
four out of the nine athletes will be forced to sit out and won’t compete, raising questions about the processes behind athlete selection and event entries.
But a member of Team Nigeria to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Yusuf Alli clarified on Wednesday that only five of the athletes were registered to compete, adding that the remaining four were brought by the NSC to watch and gain international exposure.
“It is not true that we registered all nine athletes to compete here in Dakar,” he said. “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) listed the events and the AFN registered five athletes in area it feel Nigeriahas strengh. What happened was that after the send forth party for the team, some of the athletes who could not make the team cried to the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade to be included just for them to get exposure.
And the DG, out of sympathy, directed that they should be brought here as part of the Commission’s way of exposing young athletes. It is wrong for anyone to cry aloud that the four athletes will miss their events after being registered,” Alli said.
Speaking further, Alli, an Olympian said: “Things like this do happen in sports. At the 1980 Olympic Games, Henry Amike was taken to the Games just for international exposure. He was not registered to compete.
And that was what actually encouraged him to continue in sports. If we find out that this complain came from the four athletes, the Commission won’t be happy because it is like panting the NSC bad for its good intentions. It will block the chance for other athletes to be considered for such international exposure next time,” Alli stated.
