17th February, 2012
Former Africa and Commonwealth 100m hurdle champion, Nigerian Gloria Alozie, has faulted the claim of the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Alli Gaiya, that the National Sports Commission, NSC, intends to cut down the number of athletes that will represent the country at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Gaiya had said that the move will ensure the funds allocated for the Olympics get to the athletes that will represent the country at the London Games.
However, Alozie, a two-time African champion, faulted Gaiya’s claim, saying that all the athletes that have qualified for the games should be allowed to represent the country.
“The athletes that have qualified for the games should be allowed to compete because nobody knows the athletes that will win medals for the country. Any athlete that has qualified for the games should be allowed to represent the country,” said Alozie.
The Sydney 2000 Olympics silver medalist said that nobody gave her a chance at the 1996 African Championships where she won a silver medal for Nigeria.
“I could remember when I represented Nigeria at the African Championships in 1996. Nobody thought I could win anything but I won a silver medal for the country at the championships,” said Alozie, who won a silver medal in 1999 at the IAAF World Championships in Sevlla.
—Bimbo Ajayi