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French authorities barred female athletes competing for France from wearing the hijab, or Muslim headscarf, during the Games. However, following backlash from athletes and social media users, they were allowed to cover their hair with a cap. The opening ceremony faced severe criticism from the Catholic Church in France, the Middle East Council of Churches, the Vatican, and homophobes in general. They strongly condemned the portrayal of drag queens during a performance set similar to Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, “The Last Supper.” The painting is a famous depiction of Jesus Christ, so various Christian groups viewed the show as disrespectful. The 2024 Olympics started with an opening ceremony held outside a stadium, a historic first at the Olympics.

• Top officials have tipped the Super Falcons as well as several women athletes to win medals for Nigeria at the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Despite being the national indoor and outdoor record holder in the women’s high jump, Temitope Adeshina finished 19th in the rankings.
• “I congratulate the athletes who will represent Nigeria on the global stage and I wish them well.
• For the first time in the history of the relay, the Sports Ministry has five male athletes running 45 sec in 400m and three females running 51 secs.

France

The Nigerian women’s 4X400m relay team maintained their historic 10th straight gold medal while the men’s relay team, after 21 years got back their gold medal. Nigeria achieved her best performance in 1995 when the team, led by Mary Onyali, won a record 15 gold medals. However, the relay event is highly technical and very advantageous to the country. It is thus the major reason that athletes are allowed to participate in all relay qualifications, including the World Relays which was held in Bahamas this May 2024, where the representation of Nigeria was very high and hopeful. So far, the Ministry is desiring success with great expectations in other sporting events with training in the academic areas, proper placement of professional staff and restructuring of all areas. Undoubtedly this lofty ambition comes with huge commitment, devotion and huge financial involvement.

All ethnic groups can win medals

Let’s remember that Team Nigeria put up a brilliant performance at the 13th African Games held recently in Ghana. They clinched 37 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 35 bronze medals to come second on the medals table. I believe that the bulk of the athletes that represented the country at the African Games were those that participated in the Olympics.

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As we look ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond, the performances in Paris will undoubtedly influence national sports strategies and inspire the next generation of Olympic athletes around the world. The Olympic Games have long been a testament to human athletic prowess and national pride. The 2024 Paris Olympics were no exception, featuring intense competition, record-breaking performances, and inspiring displays of sportsmanship. As the world watched, certain countries rose to the forefront, dominating the medal tables and capturing the imagination of sports fans worldwide.

Individual athletes with the most medals won at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Same with Salwa Eid Naser (formerly Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu) who also won silver medal in 400 metres, for little known Bahrain. Watching others including Yemisi Ogunleye, Victoria Ohuruogu, Barthelemy Chinenze, Samu Omorodion and Michael Olise winning medals for Germany, Great Britain, France, and Spain in different sports evoked teary eyes, and mood swings. The United States has made a strong showing with several athletes in the top ranks. Torri Huske has matched Marchand’s medal count with 3 gold, 2 silver, and 0 bronze.

Nigeria gets knocked out in the preliminary Women’s Discus Throw round

Duplantis also caused a global sensation on social media by running to see his wife after setting the world record. Leading the pack, as of Monday, August 5, is France’s Leon Marchand, who has captured an impressive 4 gold, 0 silver, and 1 bronze medals, totalling 5 overall. Kenya’s stars were Faith Kipyegon, with gold in the 1,500 metre event and silver in 5,000 metres, and Beatrice Chebet with gold over both 5,000 metre and 10,000 metre distances. This is a signal to the technocrats in Kenya and Athletics Kenya that there should be a shift in investment and team selection priorities that foregrounds the inclusion and promotion of more women athletes, coaches and decision-makers. Great Britain were assured of a quota in the men’s event when the reigning Olympic champion Tom Pidcock won the gold medal at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. A full quota of two men and two women was obtained through the final UCI mountain biking Olympic rankings.

Paris 2024 Olympics medal table

This result is a far cry from Nigeria’s best Olympic performance, which occurred at the Atlanta 1996 Games. During that historic event, the nation won six medals, including gold in men’s football and women’s long jump. In contrast, the 2024 outing could be considered among Nigeria’s worst, comparable to the 2012 London Olympics, where the country also failed to win any medals. This underscores the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in sports development and international competition. But the big shame was seeing Nigerians carrying the flag of other countries. Yemisi Ogunleye who won gold for Germany in shot put is from Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

• From major stakeholders in the sports sector to politicians and ordinary citizens, it has been consistent and continued condemnation.
• The surfing events are scheduled to take place between July 27 and August 3, 2024, with the exact dates and times subject to change based on wave conditions.
• As a scholar of east African sport, I have followed Kenya’s performance at the Olympics for decades.
• The U.S. women’s basketball team secured Team USA’s final gold medal by edging host nation France in a thrilling match that came down to the last shot.
• Her performance in Paris solidified her status as a top athlete in her own right, and her bronze medal added to the family’s Olympic legacy.
• Olympic bronze medallist and ATHLOS standout sprinter Brittany Brown wants Diamond League organisers to invest more in prize earnings for athletes.

NIGERIA’S POOR PERFORMANCE AT THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES AND WAY FORWARD.

• Australia’s swimming prowess is evident with Mollie O’Callaghan claiming 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus have both secured impressive medal hauls.
• This mark also fell well short of the 73.00m qualification standard set by World Athletics for the event.
• Unfortunately, no Nigerian has claimed gold this year, a stark contrast to the country’s previous Olympic successes.
• At the athletics Olympics village, there were complaints about substandard food, hot accommodation and cardboard beds.
• China’s success at the Paris Olympics is seen as a testament to the country’s investment in its sports programs and infrastructure.
• Team Nigeria‘s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics ended in disappointment as the country failed to secure a single medal.

Leading the medals table is the United States with a total of 126 while China follows with 91. In the 2022 Winter Games, held in Beijing, the U.S. was third in both the gold-medal count and overall medals, with nine golds and 25 overall. Norway topped the count with 16 golds and 37 total medals, followed by Germany in both gold medals, with 12, and overall medals, with 27.

People’s Republic of China

This saw a series of online bullying and transgender accusations against Iman. The allegations were quickly debunked by the International Olympic Committee, emphasising that Iman was born a woman; the disinformation was soon traced back to Russian sources. Kipyegon claimed gold in the women’s 1500 metre race, while Béatrice Chebet took gold in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events. Nigeria presented over 80 athletes in Paris but failed to win an Olympic medal — for the first time since 2012. “The minister of sports in Nigeria has limited capacity to direct the affairs of sports and for example. I had technical sessions with the different Olympic sports that we qualified for, 12 of them and got briefings from them, which is the only way I can get involved by asking questions.

Historic firsts at the Olympics

Similarly, Leon Marchand became an instant hero in France having won four individual gold medals in swimming. Emma Hayes, who spent 12 years managing the women Chelsea football team, winning seven WSL titles, five FA Cups, and the League Cup twice. She has just led the US Women’s football team to golden victory barely two months after she took over the US National team.

• The achievements highlight Uganda’s commitment to promoting sports and nurturing its athletes to excel on an international stage.
• The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has given assurance that Team Nigeria will come back from the Paris Olympics with gold medals and there’s hope that the games may go down as the best ever for the country in recent times.
• As we look ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond, the performances in Paris will undoubtedly influence national sports strategies and inspire the next generation of Olympic athletes around the world.
• Deficits in all areas would be treated and the areas of strengths are enhanced.
• It would employ staff who have the skills and experience to manage sports on more engaging and sustainable bases.
• The tiny Caribbean-island of St. Lucia, and her home town of Ciceron broke out in joyous ecstasy.

Team Nigeria‘s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics ended in disappointment as the country failed to secure a single medal. Despite significant investments in the team, the 88 athletes across 12 disciplines fell short of the podium, marking the eighth Olympic Games without a medal for Nigeria. Nigeria has abundance of talents and everything it takes to be a key player on the global stage. This is evidenced by the feats recorded by the aforementioned Nigerian athletes who switched their nationalities because of toxic environment and lack of support and motivation. One positive outcome of the post-Sydney probe was the resuscitation of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

SaharaReporters.com is an outstanding, groundbreaking news website that encourages citizen journalists to report ongoing corruption and government malfeasance in Africa. “We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic.” Paris 2024 organizing chief Tony Estanguet told athletes. At what will be his final Games, following his announcement of plans to step down next year, IOC President Thomas Bach also urged for a culture of peace in a world marred by conflict. The closing ceremony signaled the start of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Games, with American gymnastics legend Simone Biles joining Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the formal handover of the Olympic flag. Descending on a wire in front of 71,500 spectators, he snatched the Olympic flag and leaped onto a motorbike, thrilling athletes and fans alike. The Honorable Minister has maintained his assurances of the country’s readiness for the Olympic Games.

Top 5 Nigerian RnB Artists Dominating the Music Scene in 2024

In a patriarchal society, Kenya’s women have been in men’s shadows for a long time. However, at the Paris Olympics, Team Kenya’s women won seven medals while the men won four. This is the first time since the country began winning medals at the Olympics in 1964 that women have outshone men. However, these games also revealed issues and developments that need to be debated in order to inform preparations for the next games in Los Angeles in 2028. These include the rise of women runners, fewer returns on men’s distance events and a need to diversify at a development level to meet the growing competitiveness from rival nations. And since Russia was banned for this year’s games, any medals garnered by its few athletes competing as individual neutral athletes won’t be tallied as part of the country’s overall haul.

The performances of athletes of Nigerian descent underscore the nation’s rich sporting potential. As Nigeria reflects on this Olympic campaign, it must address the systemic issues hindering https://big-bet.org/ its athletes’ success and explore strategies to nurture talent domestically. She suffered the same fate at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when her name was omitted in her preferred event.

• He was a member of the Nigerian team that won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 meters relay at the 2000 Olympics.
• Enoh said placing second overall on the final medals table at the Africa Games  was a heroic feat for the Nigerian athletes, but wondered why they could not break any games’ records in the process.
• “The elections for the federations are by the corner, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations.
• Simone Biles’ triumph at Paris 2024 completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in Olympic history.
• I have learnt great lessons about life and how things may not always go as planned in some instances.
• Following the captivating viral moment between Rihanna and Rhasidat Adeleke, the Irish track star relived the moment meeting one of the most famous people in the world who’s a huge fan of her talent.
• Saint Lucia’s golden girl Julien Alfred had one of the greatest rookie year in history after sweeping all titles available in the 2024 season.

Tragedy Strikes Again: Over 60 Dead in Nigeria Boat Accident

The Ethiopians are projected to finish 17th on the final medal table with a total of 17 medals made up of five gold, six silver and six bronze medals. Victoria Ohuruogu, representing Great Britain, won a bronze medal in the women’s 4×400 meters relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Ohuruogu, the younger sister of former Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu, has followed in her sister’s footsteps by contributing to Britain’s success in the relay. Her performance in Paris solidified her status as a top athlete in her own right, and her bronze medal added to the family’s Olympic legacy. Samu Omorodion, who represented Spain in men’s football, achieved the highest honor by winning a gold medal.

Olympic champion Julien Alfred received a national honour rarely occupied by the world’s top athletes. Olympic bronze medallist and ATHLOS standout sprinter Brittany Brown wants Diamond League organisers to invest more in prize earnings for athletes. Junelle Bromfield has a message for Jamaicans’ poor reception to Kishane Thompson’s Olympic silver medal, instead chose to direct their frustrations on Noah Lyles.

Annette Echikunwoke’s silver medal in the women’s hammer throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a testament to her athletic prowess. However, the journey to the podium finish was marked by significant challenges. Born in Ohio to Nigerian parents, Echikunwoke initially aspired to represent Nigeria. Over his four Olympic appearances in the 1980s and ’90s, Lewis won nine gold medals, cementing his status as one of the sport’s greatest athletes.

Of these, 14 were in individual events, while four were achieved as part of the Soviet team. Larisa Latynina, a Soviet gymnast, stands as the second most decorated Olympian with an impressive total of 18 medals. From the 300 metres, Egbunike started closing up, and outran Kitur for the gold.

Briefly after the briefing, I asked the president of the Athletics Federation Nigeria (AFN) what our medal projections are and the basis for the projections. “Unlike other ministers of ministries that have agencies, they can decide in terms of what they want to achieve in that sector or not. The minister of sports doesn’t have such luxury because you are appointed and you have leaderships for different sports federations elected in their congress.

Our folks gave good accounts of themselves and will live to fight another day. In the Mixed Doubles, the Chinese duo of Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha claimed gold, continuing China’s dominance in table tennis. The Women’s Singles event saw Chen Meng triumph over fellow Chinese player Sun Yingsha, securing the gold medal. The Men’s Singles was won by Fan Zhendong of China, further cementing China’s superiority in the sport.

This marks a significant improvement from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where China won 38 gold medals and 82 total medals. The Chinese team’s strong performance was driven by dominance in sports such as table tennis, badminton, and diving, where they swept all the gold medals. Rowing, by gold medals (three), and cycling, by overall medals (11), were the most successful disciplines for Team GB in Paris. Great Britain won three medals in three events in triathlon, including one gold, and five medals, including two golds, from six equestrian events, with every member of the equestrian team, and all but one member of the triathlon team bringing home a medal. Those heaping the blame at the doorsteps of the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh must stop. The Minister has tried to exonerate himself, but one thinks this was not necessary.

However, Antonio Pettigrew, who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, was stripped of his medal. The Olympics are underway in Paris, and there are many exciting events as countries battle for gold, silver, and bronze. This is among many other athletes and sports personnel who have earned one or more medals. Running phenom Noah Lyles narrowly notched the gold in a photo finish to the 100 meters, and Cole Hocker pulled off a stunning upset to give the U.S. a gold in the 1500 meters, coming from behind to beat the two favorites in the field.

Enefiok Udo-Obong, also known as Enee, is a Nigerian athlete who won two Olympic medals, a gold and a bronze, at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics in the 4 x 400 men’s relay race. Jude Monye, a Nigerian athlete initially won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 meters relay at the 2000 Olympics before it was changed to gold after 12 years. This Nigerian sprinter won three World Indoor Championship medals, including an Olympic gold 2000 in the 4 x 400 relay, and holds the African indoor record with a personal best time of 44.63 seconds. She won Olympic gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics and became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.

Meanwhile track cyclist Emma Finucane became the first British female athlete to win three medals at the same Games since Mary Rand in Tokyo in 1964. Simone Biles’ triumph at Paris 2024 completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in Olympic history. The 27-year-old American, who pulled out of Tokyo for a mental health break in 2020, returned to claim three gold medals and one silver medal in Paris.

But we witnessed, nonetheless, the triumph of the human spirit, the defining characteristic of the Olympics since its Athenian beginnings, and its re-invention in modern times in 1896 by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin. Memories of the Paris Olympics will linger and endure in terms of the drama, the colourful, history-laden displays and the use of the cityscape of France, with the Eiffel Tower looming large in the background. Andy Murray, the British tennis star, announced his retirement during the Olympics.