Four days after the 2016 Olympics officially began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one topic that is still generating reactions from most Nigerians, both home and abroad, is the attire that the Nigerian contingents, Team Nigeria, wore at the opening ceremony.
The 31st Olympiad was declared opened at the Maracana stadium on Friday, August 6 and all participating countries walked at the Parade of Nations.
As part of the traditions of the Olympics, all the countries were expected to showcase their culture at the Parade of Nations led by Greece and followed by other countries in alphabetical order in the Portuguese language.
All 207 nations took centre stage, as each team walked out in colourful outfits accompanied to massive applause.
However, Nigerians watching couldn’t stop expressing their displeasure on social media about one thing – Team Nigeria’s attire.
Instead of celebrating their country as they walked the Parade of Nations, Nigerians were so disappointed as the country’s contingent, led by table tennis star Funke Oshonaike, filed out dressed in tracksuits.
Below is the photo of Team Nigeria during opening ceremony in Rio:
Many Nigerians on Twitter had a lot to say. Some of them tagged it another show of shame for Team Nigeria after the late arrival of the U-23 football team, Dream Team VI, for their first match.
“The opening ceremony of the Olympics is usually used by participating teams to display their country’s traditional wears and culture before over one billion viewers globally. But Team Nigeria marched with tracksuits in Rio is a national show of shame,” one sports analysts said while commenting on the subject.
Alexander Wolff, a sports writer covering the Games tweeted, “Nigeria, marching in sweats because official outfits didn’t make it to Rio. Can we agree that they’re a country to pull for these two weeks?”
WuzupNaija brings you six African nations that used the occasion in Brazil to showcase their rich culture:
Another African nation that portrayed her rich culture through their attire is Gambia.
However, reports say the official kit that was unveiled before President Buhari at the Aso Villa on the day Team Nigeria was officially handed over to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, failed to arrive Rio on time for the Opening Ceremony.
We can only hope such show of shame would never be allowed to repeat itself in future international sporting event.
