Nigerian Olympic Athlete, Sade Olatoye Decries Lack of Government Support Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics Games, Says She Paid For Her Training For Four Years
A Beautiful Nigerian Athlete Who Made Her Debut Appearance at the Paris Olympic Games, Sade Olatoye Has Decried The Lack of Adequate Government Support Ahead of The Just-Concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Saying That She, Like Many of her Colleagues Had to Sponsor Her Trainings And Other Preparations For Four Years.
By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde
In a recent conversation, Nigerian shot put athlete, Sade Olatoye has offered a sobering glimpse into the financial struggles faced by her and her teammates as they prepared for the 2024 Olympics.
According to Olatoye, the Nigerian government has provided next to no financial assistance throughout her rigorous training period.
OPEN TELEVISION Naija (OTN) News gathered that this lack of support means that every aspect of their preparation like training sessions, coaching fees, medical expenses, and competition costs, has been entirely self-funded.
Olatoye emphasized that the athletes have had to bear these financial burdens for years with no relief in sight.
She further explained that discussions about potential grants only arise when they reach the championship stage.
However, these grants, when they do materialize, are insufficient to alleviate the substantial financial burden the athletes have carried for years.
"Pretty much every year, me and my teammates, everything is out of pocket," Olatoye explained.
"We pay for our own training, coaches, medical care, and competition fees. It’s not until we get to the championship that we start hearing about potential grants. But even then, those grants don’t even cover two per cent of what I’ve spent over the last four years preparing for the Olympics," Olatoye laments.
OTN News gathered that this lack of financial support has reportedly put additional pressure on Nigerian athletes, who have not only had to focus on excelling in their sports but also navigate the challenges of financing a substantial part of their Olympic journey.
Olatoye’s account highlights the significant gap between the athletes’ needs and the level of support provided by the Nigerian government, raising serious concerns about the future of sports development in the country.
It would be recalled that team Nigeria ended the just-concluded Olympic Games in Paris without winning a single medal.
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