Nigeria doesn’t appreciate Olympic medallists – Idoko

Silver medallist in the women’s 4x100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Franca Idoko, says athletes who win medals for Nigeria at international events, including the Olympics, don’t get the desired recognition from the country.

In an interview with our correspondent, Idoko said more should be done for athletes who make the country proud in international events.

She said after they won a silver medal in Beijing nothing was done by the government to appreciate them.

“When they bring back the medal, what next?

“Sometimes the country tends not to appreciate Olympic medals even though it’s the highest rank medal in sports.

“I got an Olympic medal in 2008 and we never got recognised, not even with a handshake from the President. Our country does not encourage athlete and success, which is sad,” Idoko told The PUNCH.