Nigeria Olympic Committee sets medal target for Paris Olympics

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has set an ambitious goal for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, aiming to secure at least 12 medals.

NOC Secretary General Tunde Popoola shared this target during an interview on Brila FM.

Popoola emphasised the importance of supporting and empowering athletes, stating, “The athletes shouldn’t be begging for bread; this is an opportunity to empower them. Most of the funds, like what the Sports Minister said, will go to the athletes, and we agree. We need to empower them so that, at the end of the day, they can be proud.”

He highlighted the significance of ensuring athletes are well-supported and included in the overall vision. “We want to make the athletes happy and include them in the picture. We want to expose them, show what is going on here. If we have a bad image and do particularly well in the Olympics, everybody will not seem to think about that anymore. It polishes our image as a country and positions us very well.”

Regarding the medal count, Popoola was optimistic but realistic. “The color of the medal is what I cannot say, but we will come back with a larger number than we used to have. I think whatever colors of medals we are going to get shouldn’t be less than 12,” he concluded.

This bold target reflects Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing its performance on the international stage and providing better support and opportunities for its athletes.

The much-anticipated Paris Olympic games will get underway in France this week.