BY JOHN EGBOKHAN
Nigeria’s bid for medals at the 2014 Commonweath Games, starting this month in Glasgow, Scotland is in grave danger and could remain a pipe dream following the non-release of funds for pre-games preparations.

The 2014 edition of the Commonwealth Games holds between July 23 to August 3 and promises to be the largest multi-sporting event ever held in Scotland, although the country previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

The grave news is that with less than 15 days to the start of the Games, Team Nigeria athletes are yet to proceed on pre-Games training tour and camp ing, raising questions Nigeria’s quest for a successful outing in Glasgow.

Since the country’s maiden appearance at the 1950 edition in Auckland, Nigeria has featured in nine other Games, the last being in New Delhi in 2010, where the athletes garnered 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals, which ranks as the country’s second best outing at the Games. The best outing for Team Nigeria was Victoria Games in 1994, where the athletes scooped 11 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals.

But this glittering record is in danger of being rubbished owing to the non-release of funds for athletes to start camping ahead of the herculean challenges they will face in Glasgow. With athletes like Olympic and world 100m, 200m and relay champion, Usain Bolt set to race for Jamiaca at the Games, Nigerian athletes are fearing the worst in Glasgow.

“We are in a state of hopelessness because we do not know where we stand as far as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is concerned. It is a thing of shame that no athlete has been sent on training tour for the Games. We fear that this may be our worst outing in the last 20 years”, said one female athlete who craved anonymity.

Another athlete said Nigerians must not hold them responsible in the event of a woeful outing in Glasgow,.

“We are talking out now because we do not want them to blame us if we fail in Scotland. Our administrators are the ones preparing the ground for us to fail as they have kept us in limbo up till now.”