Paris Olympics: Home-based Athletes Didn’t Receive Training Allowance – Sports Minister

Minister of Sports Development, Owan Enoh, has decried the non-payment of training allowances to home-based athletes representing Nigeria at the Paris Olympics Games.

Senator Owan Enoh said foreign-based athletes were paid their training allowances while the home-based were left out.

He said he became aware of the injustice following complaints he received from the home-based athletes during interactive session.

Enoh added that his intervention marked the first time home-based athletes representing the country in international competitions got training allowances like their foreign-based counterparts.

In a statement on his X handle, on Wednesday, the Sports Minister said, “In ensuring that all local, foreign, and Olympic allowances are paid to all Team Nigeria athletes, I had another interactive session with the athletes at the games village in Paris as follow up on their welfare.

“Home-based athletes complained of never receiving training grants, as this has only been a privilege for their foreign-based counterparts who represent the country.”

He explained that all athletes deserve the same treatment. He further disclosed that all allowances due to the athletes at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics have been paid.

“We have ensured for the first time ever, home-based athletes representing the country also receive training grants. Foreign and home-based athletes have now received training grants in addition to all other allowances already paid. All athletes deserve training grants, as they all put in effort and passion to represent the country. They are all deserving.

“There’s a lot of excitement at the games village and the athletes are greatly enthused for podium appearances,” Enoh added.