Names of athletes representing Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics
This provisional 60-man list of Team Nigeria published on the official website of the Tokyo Olympics is however subject to change if the officials deem it necessary for some entries.
Artistic Gymnastics
- Uche Eke
Athletics
- Enoch Adegoke
- Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
- Divine Oduduru
- Usheoritse Itsekiri
- Samson Nathaniel
- Chidi Okezie
- Tobi Amusan
- Ese Brume
- Blessing Okagbare
- Favour Ofili
- Rosemary Chukwuma
- Patience Okon-George
- Ruth Usoro
- Grace Nwokocha
- Glory Patrick
- Knowledge Omovoh
- Nse Imaobong Uko
- Chioma Onyekwere
- Annette Echikunwoke
Badminton
- Godwin Olofua
- Juwon Anuoluwapo 0peyori
- Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan
Basketball
Men:
- Caleb Agada
- Precious Achiuwa
- Ike Ireogbu
- Chimezie Metu
- Jordan Nwora
- Jahlil Okafor
- Josh Okogie
- Stan Okoye
- Chikezie Okpala
- Olumiye Oni
- Ekpe Udoh
- Nnamdi Vincent
Women:
- Promise Amukamara
- Oderah Chidom
- Adara Elonu
- Ify lbekwe
- Ezinne Kalu
- Aisha Mohammed
- Erica Ogwumike
- Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah
- Nneka Ogwumike
- Atonye Nyingifa
- Nnenna Amy Okonkwo
- Elizabeth Williams
Canoe Sprint
- Emmanuel Ayomide Bello
Rowing
- Esther oko
Swimming
- Abiola Ogunbanwo
Table Tennis
- Aruna Quadri
- Olajide Omotayo
- Offiong Edem
- Funke Oshonaike
Taekwondo
- Oluchi Elizabeth Anyanacho
Wrestling
- Ekerekeme Agiomor
- Odunayo Adekuoroye
- Aminat Adeniyi
- Blessing Oborududu
- Adijat ldris
Naomi Osaka lights Olympic cauldron as No fans grace the Olympic opening ceremony
On a steamy night in Tokyo, the Olympic flame was lit on a mountain. A replication of Fuji, in a sparkling new stadium, full of thousands of empty seats. A look at the scenery reminds us all of the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic that wrecked global havoc on our social lives.
Popular tennis player, Naomi Osaka of Japanese received the torch at the center of the stadium before she officially opened Mt. Fuji to this Olympic Games.
After COVID-19 delayed the athletes named for the Tokyo Olympics for more than a year, Japan finally welcomed the world with an opening ceremony recognizing that much has changed in the world since the Tokyo Olympics were postponed last March.
While the stadium was bathed in blue light, the ceremony opened with dozens of athletes training alone – as many had to do following the outbreak of the pandemic.
International Olympic Committee has witnessed the presence of unhappy demonstrators who thronged outside of the stadium and could be heard expressing their concern over the risks associated with hosting the Tokyo Olympics amid the pandemic.
With the Tokyo Olympics flame lit, a majority of the Japanese public continues to oppose hosting these games as COVID-19 cases rise across the country.
Several recent polls from the Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper and many other media channels revealed that two out of every three citizens of Japan express worries that Japan may not be able to host safe Olympic games. Over fifty percent of those who answered the poll were of the view that Japan should not host the Olympics.
Hours before the ceremony, Olympic organizers announced that three more participants at the Tokyo Games, including a resident of the Athletes’ Village, tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases disclosed to 106.
The more than two hours ceremony was a strong reminder of the current global pandemic and near-universal awakening to gender equality and social change, while at the same time encompassing Japan’s rich history.
It was relatively gloomy and subdued by the standards of the Olympic opening ceremony, occasionally punctuated by fireworks.
No Japanese fans
At such a historic event, Japanese fans were not allowed in. Instead, the huge stadium was littered with about 1,000 people, including IOC members, VIPs, and foreign dignitaries, including the U.S. First Lady Jill Biden.
Outside, many Japanese crowded around the stadium, which is heavily fortified and almost impossible for people to reach.
For what IOC officials described as a time of joy and exultation, few were there to witness the historic opening.
As the nearly 70,000-seat stadium was empty, this event had an eerie feeling from the start. Almost total silence except for a helicopter whirring overhead as the athletes’ laughter and music used during much of the ceremony echoed across the stadium.
Thrive of gender equality
More than 5,000 athletes from over 200 countries were able to march into the stadium. Each delegation sent a reduced contingent, with the majority of nations having their flags carried by both male and female athletes as part of the IOC’s support for gender equality.
Canadian rugby player Nathan Hirayama and basketball player, Miranda Ayim led the 30-athlete Canadian delegation.
The athletes entered a medley of songs from classic Japanese video games such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Some of the contestants got into the stadium obviously anticipating applause from mammoth spectators, only to realize that the stadium was only filled to the brim with empty chairs.
Nonetheless, many athletes at the Tokyo Olympics sang and danced as they entered and enjoyed this unique experience.
It is commendable that the organizers were able to pull off this ceremony, which apparently was haunted by controversy.
On the eve of this event, the head of the opening ceremony was fired after speaking about the Holocaust as a comedian in the past.
And earlier this week, a composer whose music was set to feature prominently at the opening ceremonies was forced to resign after it was revealed that he was involved in some previous bullying incidents.
