47 Years After, Air Peace to Honour Nigerian Athletes that Boycotted Montreal Olympics

*1980 AFCON winning squad to also benefit from Allen Onyema’s large heart

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Forty-seven years after Nigeria led 27 African countries to boycott the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada with solidarity support from Iraq and Guyana, the Team Nigeria athletes who were denied lifetime opportunities to become Olympians and medalists are set to be honoured.

Also, Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON winning squad will similarly be honoured with listing in the newly created NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame in addition to cash award from Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos yesterday to unveil plans to honour these worthy former footballers and athletes who sacrificed their lives for the country but got little or nothing in return, the Air Peace owner, insisted that he’s moved to be involved as a way to tell them their sacrifices for the country will not be in vain.

“We are talking about Nigerians who used their prime to serve this country. They arrived Montreal, Canada and just on the eve of the opening ceremony, were asked to pack their bags and leave camp because Nigeria and the rest of Africa had resolved to boycott the Games as a result of support some countries were giving apartheid South Africa regime.

“These were athletes that had prepared for four years . Some were on top of their events like Charlton Ehizuelen, Imadiyi, Bruce Ijirigho and our 4x400m men’s relay team that were sure gold or silver medal hopefuls. In fact, Ehizuelen had the world leading jump to the Olympics. They jettisoned their dreams because of Nigeria. Most didn’t recover and never had the opportunities to become Olympic medalists again in their lifetime.

“How many can do that today? Those who can even venture, will Japa (elope) and not return to Nigeria but these our heroes and heroines obeyed. These former athletes and the 1980 AFCON winning squad are those to be honoured as Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors come July 28, 2023,” observed Onyema who was a fantastic footballer and sprinter as an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan. He played league football for NISER FC until he graduated.

Apart from listing them in the Wall of Fame, the Air Peace CEO also pledged to give some financial incentives as well as guarantee each of those still alive, 12return tickets to local destinations and one foreign trip to any country that his airline operates on the route.

“It is not because I am rich that I am doing this. It is because I have a heart that appreciates and gives to appreciate those who serve this country, diligently. We are therefore calling on other corporate bodies to also find a way to appreciate our heroes, those who sacrificed for this country.”

Corroborating Onyema, former Green Eagles Captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, who was in the 1976 football team to the Montreal Games, recalled with nostalgia how their dreams were truncated.

“I was in that football team at the Olympic Games. We were all bubbling in camp, waiting for the opening ceremony when we were told Nigeria has led other African countries to boycott the Games. We were given one hour to pack our backs and join the bus heading to the airport.

“ I must tell you that before then, the Nigeria Olympic team defeated Canada who later got to the quarter final 3-0 in a friendly. Charlton (Ehizuelen) was the best in the world in the jump and had the best jump leading to the Games. It was the same for the likes of boxer Davidson Andeh, athletes like Dele Udoh and Others. Just like that, our dreams just varnished,”recalled Odegbami who four years later led Team Nigeria as Captain to the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games in Russia.

He commended Onyema for all he has been doing for Nigerian sports, most especially his several interventions to move the senior national team, the Super Eagles to several competitions without charging a fee.

Odegbami sadly revealed that out of the 45 Nigerian athletes that were in Montreal for the Games, “20 of them have died, almost half of those alive are having health challenges. For the 1980 AFCON squad, six have died while five others are nursing one ailment or the other. I am only fortunate by God’s grace  to be amongst those with good health.”

Mrs Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, the CEO/Chief Consultant of Z-Edge Holdings, the PR firm handling the project was full of appreciation for the Air Peace Chairman for the initiative to honour the country’s past sports heroes. 

“We believe that this will spur the present generation and those coming behind to give their all to Nigeria, knowing that their efforts will not go in vain.”

The ceremony has been scheduled to hold at 6pm in the Ballroom of Eko Hotel on Friday, July 28, 2023.

NAIJA SUPER 8