igbo2011: Look at Christine Ohuruogu and Lawrence Okoye they are of Nigerian ancestry. If Nigeria had more economic opportunities their parents would have stayed in Nigeria and they might have been able to play for the Nigerian Olympic team. We also need to INVEST in the sports industry and we can have more Olympians!!! We need more track and fields, well maintenance football pitches and more state of the art basketball courts. We can start a huge billion dollar sports industry.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nigerian-Economic-Development-Plan/278164788911610

Those both are representing Great Britain. Who else is representing other countries?

kutchs: Hey op stop making it sound as if Nigeria is the worst country in the world. As u have Nigerians representing other countries so do u have nationals of other countries representing other countries. Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose etc have Polish ancestry but rep Germany, Sami Khedira, Mezut Ozil are Turks but play for Germany, Pepe, Deco are Brazillians but play for Portugal, Mauro Camorenesi is Argentine but played for Italy, Zidane, Nasri, Benzema all have Algerian ancestry, Ibrahim Affelay is Moroccan but plays for Holland. If you go to French speaking African countries u will see many of them representing France not to forget Marcel Desaily of Ghana for France, so u see it is not all about Nigeria and BTW outside of Ohuruogu which of does athletes u mentioned have done anything remarkable?

shymex: I don't know but I can NEVER represent another country apart from ancestry..

And my kids will NEVER represent another country apart from my ancestry..

Hakeem Olajuwon played for America - but they still refer to him as a Nigerian.. So, he's more of a paid mercenary...

All the ones who represented the UK, are still black Africans when they fill employment forms tomorrow after the olympics - but I'm not here to critique anyone, each to their own..

stint: if they were in nigeria, most of them would have never become that good as we all know how our sport facilities here are.we should be Glad they became so good whatever flag they choose to carry they are still nigerians. And we still have a lot of atletes here in nigerian with so much potential though they may not improve as well untill they find their way out of nigeria unfortunately.
But whatever happens i know that although i may never get to celebrate Nigeria , i know there will always be Nigerian to celebrate.

shymex: I don't know but I can NEVER represent another country apart from ancestry..

And my kids will NEVER represent another country apart from my ancestry..

Hakeem Olajuwon played for America - but they still refer to him as a Nigerian.. So, he's more of a paid mercenary...

All the ones who represented the UK, are still black Africans when they fill employment forms tomorrow after the olympics - but I'm not here to critique anyone, each to their own..

Mr.chippychappy:
Lawrence Okoye - Team GB men discus throw


Christine Ohuruogu - Team GB Women's 400m , Women's 4 x 400m Relay - A silver medal

Strong eastern sister

Mr.chippychappy:
Ayodele Ikuesan - Team France Athletics Women's 4 x 100m Relay

mpmp: Why is everybody whining about men/women OF NIGERIAN ORIGIN representing other countries. Is it wrong to do so?

I think its pure selfishness and greed to assume and conclude that just because they have Nigerian Heritage, they have a responsibility to represent Nigeria. When these athletes were training 24/7, dreaming big, enduring all the stress and rigor of traning, working multiple jobs, applying for scholarhips up and down, getting their lifes put together, I wonder where all of you were. Now that they are at the top of their game, we have the time to start researching their surname and parental heritage.

Is Barrack Obama representing Kenya?

If His father was Nigerian, I'm sure by now we would have stoned him with our Nigerian Heritage stones and he would be out of the white house. We would have blamed him for all the woes that befall Nigeria just because of what doesnt even concern him.

Many of those listed are actually not Nigerians. That you were born by Nigerian Parents, but bred abroad and lived there all your life does not make you a Nigerian. We can be ofcourse mild to say they hold dual citizenships, etc. What would you all say if it were these foreign bones and muscles that represented Nigeria - if all our homegrown talents were booted out. Wont we be the ones crying cruelity and partiality?

And for those athletes who change their nationalities just for the purpose of pursuing their dream, why cant we look inwards as a nation and ask ourselves what makes them leave. If the American Embassy opens its doors to just about anybody, even the Agberos will apply for American citizenship.

Are there not foreigners that live amongst us? do we consider them Nigerians, regardless of the # of years they have been domiciled in Nigeria, lived, studied and done business in Nigeria? do we allow them to have their own Nigerian breathing space?

Mind you, Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan went to bombard Trinidad and Tobago with a 70-member entourage, meanwhile we Nigeria has 53 athletes to represent 150million people at the Olympics.

Isnt the puzzle solved now?

Mr.chippychappy:


Hate ? HAHA if they stayed in Nigeria they probably wouldn't achieve a quarter of what they have achieved . This Country Kills dreams and aspirations.

shymmex: Hakeem Olajuwon played for America - but they still refer to him as a Nigerian..

Mr.chippychappy:
Danielle Alakija - Team Fiji womens 400m