Segun Odegbami, a member of Team Nigeria in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, reflects on the devastating experience of the country’s boycott. Nigeria, along with 28 other nations, withdrew from the Games due to the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to ban New Zealand, which had violated the UN’s call for a sports embargo against apartheid South Africa.
Odegbami recalls the vibrant atmosphere within the Nigerian delegation as they prepared for the Games. They had a strong team and high hopes of winning medals. However, their excitement abruptly ended when they received an urgent call from Abraham Ordia, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa. They were given only an hour to pack their belongings and were rushed to the airport.
At the airport, they witnessed the chaotic scene of numerous black athletes stranded with no flights available. Fortunately, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened and arranged for a brand-new DC-10 plane to transport the Nigerian athletes back home. They were the first Africans to be evacuated from Montreal.
Despite their safe return, Odegbami describes the experience as the most shattering moment of their lives. They were on the doorstep of the Olympic Games but unable to participate. Odegbami also reveals that many of his teammates have passed away, while others face various health challenges.
The decision to boycott the Montreal Olympics remains a significant and poignant event in Nigeria’s sporting history.
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