History of Nigeria in Olympics
Olympics are international sporting events, specifically carried out as a summer and winter sports competition in which athletes from all parts of the world participate in many sports and competitions. It is considered as one of the world’s major sports competitions which comprises of not less than 100 nations taking part in the event. The Olympic Games is been hosted every four years, in summer and winter season which is two years apart.
The evolution of Olympic Games originated from ancient Olympic Games which were as of then primarily held at Olympia in Greece dated from 8th century BC - 4th century AD.
The creation of the Olympic Movement at the 20th and 21st centuries brought many changes to the Olympic Games, the changes include the creation of other sporting games or sub-Olympic games from the parent body which includes;
More than 13,000 athletes compete at every summer and winter Olympic Games comprising of 33 different sports activities to over 200 events. The first, second, and third runner-up in each event are awarded Olympic Medals such as gold, silver, and bronze. The game is now versatile and being recognized all over the globe, and Nigeria is not left out as well in the sporting activities.
Nigeria first took part in Olympic Games in the year 1952, and in every summer Olympic Games, there are athletes that represent them.
Nigeria is the first African country to participate at the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9th to 25th February 2018 of which three Nigerian female athletes represented the country in Bobsleigh and skeleton event.
Unlike most other African countries, Nigeria has made headways in the Olympic games, Nigeria’s sole medallists at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, securing a bronze medal by defeating Honduras 3-2 on Saturday in Belo Horizonte. The victory makes Nigeria the most successful African team in Olympic football history, having previously won gold in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and silver at the 2008 competition in Beijing.
Nigeria Olympic Team in London 2012 participated in the following sports although did not get any single medal in Athletics (including all track and field events: Long Jump, Relay, Javelin, 100 Meters, etc.): basketball, boxing, canoe slalom, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Nigeria was also represented at the Paralympians games and won medals as well;
