Headline: Nigerian Cyclist Criticizes Authorities for Renting Out Velodrome for Religious Events Instead of Training
Headline: Nigerian Cyclist Criticizes Authorities for Renting Out Velodrome for Religious Events Instead of Training
Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye, a Nigerian cyclist who recently competed at the Paris Olympics, has expressed her frustration over the misuse of Nigeria’s top-tier cycling facility, the velodrome, by local sports administrators. Despite being one of the best cycling tracks in Africa, the velodrome is frequently rented out for religious events, leaving athletes without a proper venue to train.
Ukpeseraye highlighted the irony of having such a world-class facility in Nigeria that remains underutilized for its intended purpose. “We have a very beautiful track; our track is the best in Africa, but we don’t use it. They don’t permit us to use it,” she said in an interview with CyclingNews.com. She warned that if this trend continues, it could lead to the decline of cycling in Nigeria due to the lack of training opportunities.
Ukpeseraye also revealed that she had to borrow a bike to participate in the Keirin Sprint event at the ongoing Olympics, further underscoring the challenges faced by Nigerian athletes. This revelation sparked outrage among Nigerians, who criticized the authorities for their incompetence in managing sports facilities.
In response to the backlash, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), attempting to clarify the situation. He explained that Ukpeseraye’s post was misunderstood and provided context to the issue. According to the Minister, Team Nigeria was initially prepared for a road race in cycling with the appropriate training and equipment. However, two weeks before the Olympics, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) allocated additional slots to Nigeria for the Keirin and individual sprint events due to the disqualification of another country. Unfortunately, this late reallocation required different equipment, which was not available to the team at the time.
Ukpeseraye’s comments have reignited discussions about the management of sports facilities in Nigeria and the need for better support for athletes. As the country continues to produce world-class talent, the proper utilization of its resources remains a critical issue.
