By Tony Ubani
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio provided some memorable moments with some athletes creating Olympic records, individuals winning medals more than countries who left Rio as they came. Empty handed.

There were stunning finishes, record-breaking results and moments of incredible sportsmanship.

However, there was a country that raised the temperatures of their citizens even when everybody knew they were “doomed” to fail.   What with controversies, marching with track suits, kits arriving three days to the end of the Games, etc.

Carried away by what we call IGG   – Initial Gara-Gara, Nigerians were swayed by the hypes of the Press into believing that miracles and prayers could bring honour to a country that has repeatedly made the same mistake of not preparing its athletes ahead of the global fiesta. We enjoyed controversies elevated to an Olympian height that ended up embarrassing and disgracing the country, Nigeria.

But who cares? The world watched in dismay as our U -23 Olympic football team became beggars in Atlanta, USA where they went to prepare for the Olympics. Instead of commendation, condemnation followed. Shamefully enough, Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung was not wise enough (as Solomon) as he denied knowledge of the Team’s USA trip accusing the great Samson Siasia of engaging in “human trafficking”.

That was vile and distasteful coming from a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The comedy was to continue even with arranging flights to ferry the team to Brazil. It remains one of the lowest points of Nigeria’s participation at the Rio Olympics. One that has left us with big scars.

At a time Nigeria’s Rio dreams appeared to be turning into tatters, the same “human trafficking” team that was ridiculed, scoffed and sneered by Dalung became the heroes of Team Nigeria with their “Golden Bronze” that made Nigerians walk with their noses in front.

Apart from football that justified its kingship in Nigerian sports, other athletes floundered even to opponents they had conquered before. Those ones went back to the real drawing board, prepared effectively and snuffed out our athletes in very embarrassing manners. Our display in Rio, no doubt, fell short of the expectations of those who sent their army to war without guns.

However, there were sparkles from few Nigerians who showed the world the stuff they were made of with Aruna Quadri headlining the pack.   The young Ping Ponger lightened Rio with his ferocious spins that shot Africa into the record books. With his electric performance, Quadri became the first African to ever get to the quarter finals of Olympic Table Tennis event. The world stood up for his performance even when he faced the master of the game, Ma Long, the Table Tennis prodigy from China.

Nigeria Olympic Committee President, Engr Habu Gumel called him the STAR of Team Nigeria in Rio. Dalung hailed his exploits and Africans rose in unison to salute the King of the continent. He was not alone. Ageless Segun Toriola made Nigeria proud for joining the rare club of athletes who have participated in seven Olympic Games. Club 7. Marking 28 solid years of playing at the Olympic Games. It was a thing of joy when the fanatical crowd in Rio ran riot in celebration for his mastery of the game.

Many, though, have pointed out that his long stay in Table Tennis is an indication of the stunted growth of the game in the country. It also shows the laziness of the upcoming ones who have failed woefully to seize the opportunity to retire Toriola. Federation President, Enitan Oshodi agreed. “There is no way one can tell him to retire when he still reigns supreme. He beats the upcoming ones and remains an asset to us”, Oshodi, one of the shining Federation Presidents volunteered.

In that order of Aruna Quadri and Toriola, the female category is not different. Funke Oshinaike with six Olympic appearances still holds the light with Offiong Edem.   As they say, the ball is in the court of the coaches to produce players that can end the era of these paragons. Else, we’ll break the records of having players appearing in many Olympics without any medal to show for it. The game belongs to the youths.   And that is why Quadri is shining. He needs to be supported so as to take over the game from the rampaging Asians.

Athletes like iconic Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt,   Simone Biles pulled out supreme performances that kept the world on the edge. They’re a handful of constants in the world.

The Rio Games, which marked the first Olympics to be held in South America – saw Team USA top the medal chart in every category for only the seventh time in Olympic history and the first since 1948, leading all nations with 121 medals, including 46 golds, 37 silvers and 38 bronzes.

Most leading countries have started planning for Tokyo 2020 right after the Rio Games. It remains to be seen whether our sports fraternity wakes up from its slumber or remains engrossed in needless talk shops till we are caught up in the web of yet another colourless outing in Tokyo 2020.

Rio is history, it is time to start talking Tokyo.