July 28th 2023 – Day sport and diplomacy meet

Segun Odegbami

On July 28th, 2023, Filbert Bayi, OLY, former Tanzanian middle distance runner, one of Africa’s greatest athletes in history will be in Lagos. African American legendary former sprinter, Olympic Gold and Bronze medalist, Ron Freeman, OLY, will be in town.

The CEO of OlympAfrica, Allasanne Thierno Diack, is also on his way to Lagos.

So, also is radical political scholar, historian, cultural and social activist from South Africa, Dr. Biki Minyuku.

They are all coming for an unprecedented historic assembly that will inspire generations of youths from across Africa and even beyond.

It is NOT a pure Sport event, hence its location within the premises of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. It is more of a diplomatic event that derives its significance in the deeds of sportsmen and women that meritoriously served their country and the Black race.

The 1976 Olympics Games Heroes! In the records of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, and the directory of the World Olympians Association, WOA, the names of all the athletes from Nigeria that went to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, will NOT be found. Yet, they were physically at the Games, spent 10 days in the Games Village along with other athletes from around the world, were involved in pre-Olympics competitions, and even participated in the rehearsals for the Ceremonial march-past.

For four years, the athletes prepared well to take on the rest of the world, make a name and a fortune for themselves and earn international honours for their country.

A day to the opening ceremony of the Games, their dreams went up in flames. They were summoned by the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, SCSA, and informed of the decision