Athletes representing Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have raised concerns about the disparity in training grants between home-based and foreign-based athletes.
According to The PUNCH, the issue began after Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, announced the disbursement of training grants to athletes on Tuesday.
Enoh revealed that the home-based athletes, who had previously been excluded from such grants, would now receive training allowances, a right that had only been extended to their foreign-based counterparts.
“In ensuring that all local, foreign, and Olympic allowances are paid to all Team Nigeria athletes, I had another interactive session with the athletes at the games village in Paris to follow up on their welfare. Home-based athletes complained of never receiving training grants, as this has only been a privilege for their foreign-based counterparts who represent the country,” Enoh stated on X.
“We have ensured for the first time that home-based athletes representing the country also receive training grants. Foreign and home-based athletes have now received training grants in addition to all other allowances already paid. All athletes deserve training grants, as they all put in effort and passion to represent the country.
“They are all deserving.”
Despite this progress, the announcement sparked further complaints about the unequal distribution of funds.
Foreign-based athletes received $5,000 each, while their home-based peers were allocated just $1,000.
A member of the women’s 4x100m relay team, Olayinka Olajide, expressed her dissatisfaction with the disparity.
“The session was indeed interactive, and we appreciate the transparency and full responsibility your office holds, sir.
“However, I believe there should be no segregation when it comes to training grants. We all are Nigerian athletes, and we deserve a full right. We appreciate this new progression, but there is no reason local-based athletes should be paid 20 per cent of the amount given to foreign-based athletes.
“I bring to your notice, dear Minister, that there’s no Nigerian price or special treatment to get the necessary things we need as local-based,” Olajide wrote on X.
Another anonymous home-based athlete supported Olajide’s view, emphasizing that home-based athletes often face greater expenses.
“There is nothing like home-based or foreign-based in this context because we are all the same. We train, pay for transport, and even spend more than some of our mates abroad because the economy and the system of the country at home will make us spend more.
“It is the home-based athletes who eventually become foreign-based. We even have to pay our coaches who are training us at home,” they said.
Public support for the athletes has also emerged. “Is there a dichotomy between athletes representing the country? Should they have asked before being paid? This is all wrong,” Martinos Francis commented.
“Home-based athletes are rightfully complaining about this clear disparity. This unfair treatment is demoralising for our local talent representing the same country as the foreign-based athletes who were once local-based. Every athlete deserves equal recognition and support, regardless of their base,” Gholahan Oyewo added.
Before the Games, Minister Enoh confirmed that the Federal Government had allocated N12 billion for Team Nigeria, with N9 billion earmarked for the Olympics and the remaining N3 billion for the Paralympics, scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8.
