Too much food may destroy Nigerian athletes in Rio- Falilat warns
As Team Nigeria joins over 206 countries in
the quest for Olympic glory at the Summer
Olympics in Rio, Brazil, there are mounting
challenges facing the country's contingent as
it battles to exorcise the ghost of London
2012 Olympics where the most populous
black nation in the world took pride in
participation only.
The lack of adequate preparation for the
team is enough to scuttle any podium
appearance for the athletes.
Beyond that, however, is the massive dining
hall at the athletes' village where 60,000
meals per day would be served 24 hours
daily. The smell, taste and availability of the
food, no doubt can lead some athletes
especially Africans, astray by way of heavy
consumption. And that is the fear of former
Olympic bronze medalist Falilat Ogunkoya.
She saw it happen before and she is afraid it
may occur again.
''Without control, some athletes will fall prey
to the appealing, mouth-watering, delicious
and palatable continental dishes on offer at
the dining hall'', Chief Falilat said, adding
that ‘’this is the first step our officials should
take to ensure that athletes do not eat
voraciously. They should be guided'', Falilat
insisted.
Brazil has already promised to spoil athletes
and officials with dinner tables that are well
known by foreigners with dishes like rice and
black beans, barbecued steak and coconut
water as well as farofa, tapioc, acai,
brigadeiro or pao de queijo.
Falilat warns that Team Nigerian officials
should ensure that our athletes do not
indulge in these food. “There is that
temptation for an athlete to eat as much
since it is going to be open for 24 hours. Our
athletes should be guided so that they don't
spend much of their time at the dining. Some
countries have nutritionists who accompany
their athletes and advice them on what to
eat. But African athletes are always on their
own. And the first reaction to these enticing
food is to descend on them. We should not
make that mistake again'', Falilat advised.
About 18,000 people (athletes, coaches and
technical staff) will be housed in the village
during the Olympic Games, with another
7,000 due for the Paralympic Games. A team
of approximately 2,500 people, will be
working around the clock to ensure they are
served healthy, balanced and tasty meals.
While there will be various options, such as
Italian, Asian, African ‘tastes of the world’,
the hosts hope that their guests will give the
‘home cooking’ a try.
Chief Falilat Ogunkoya said that
notwithstanding the low level preparation of
Team Nigeria, that some athletes are going
to push themselves to the limit for national
glory.
''The athletes know that this is the moment
they have been waiting for. They'll give
everything into it and anything can happen in
sports. I am optimistic that Team Nigeria will
hit the Bull's eye at Rio'', she said with a
broad smile.
the quest for Olympic glory at the Summer
Olympics in Rio, Brazil, there are mounting
challenges facing the country's contingent as
it battles to exorcise the ghost of London
2012 Olympics where the most populous
black nation in the world took pride in
participation only.
The lack of adequate preparation for the
team is enough to scuttle any podium
appearance for the athletes.
Beyond that, however, is the massive dining
hall at the athletes' village where 60,000
meals per day would be served 24 hours
daily. The smell, taste and availability of the
food, no doubt can lead some athletes
especially Africans, astray by way of heavy
consumption. And that is the fear of former
Olympic bronze medalist Falilat Ogunkoya.
She saw it happen before and she is afraid it
may occur again.
''Without control, some athletes will fall prey
to the appealing, mouth-watering, delicious
and palatable continental dishes on offer at
the dining hall'', Chief Falilat said, adding
that ‘’this is the first step our officials should
take to ensure that athletes do not eat
voraciously. They should be guided'', Falilat
insisted.
Brazil has already promised to spoil athletes
and officials with dinner tables that are well
known by foreigners with dishes like rice and
black beans, barbecued steak and coconut
water as well as farofa, tapioc, acai,
brigadeiro or pao de queijo.
Falilat warns that Team Nigerian officials
should ensure that our athletes do not
indulge in these food. “There is that
temptation for an athlete to eat as much
since it is going to be open for 24 hours. Our
athletes should be guided so that they don't
spend much of their time at the dining. Some
countries have nutritionists who accompany
their athletes and advice them on what to
eat. But African athletes are always on their
own. And the first reaction to these enticing
food is to descend on them. We should not
make that mistake again'', Falilat advised.
About 18,000 people (athletes, coaches and
technical staff) will be housed in the village
during the Olympic Games, with another
7,000 due for the Paralympic Games. A team
of approximately 2,500 people, will be
working around the clock to ensure they are
served healthy, balanced and tasty meals.
While there will be various options, such as
Italian, Asian, African ‘tastes of the world’,
the hosts hope that their guests will give the
‘home cooking’ a try.
Chief Falilat Ogunkoya said that
notwithstanding the low level preparation of
Team Nigeria, that some athletes are going
to push themselves to the limit for national
glory.
''The athletes know that this is the moment
they have been waiting for. They'll give
everything into it and anything can happen in
sports. I am optimistic that Team Nigeria will
hit the Bull's eye at Rio'', she said with a
broad smile.
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