As characteristic of the Olympic games and in a show of true sportsmanship, the German cycling team during the Paris Olympics came to the aid of Nigerian cyclist, Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye lending her a bicycle to compete at the games.
Ukpeseraye, representing Team Nigeria, at the Olympics, was not provided with a bicycle to race in the keirin and sprint events due to the short notice of her participation.
“Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” Ukpeseraye said in a post via her X handle on Thursday, 08 August 2024.
However, the German team, Bund Deutscher Radfahrer, stepped in to assist the Nigerian athlete.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you,” Ukpeseraye added.
This gesture of goodwill from the German team exemplifies the nature of the Olympic spirit, where athletes from different nations come together to support one another, regardless of their competitive rivalries.
Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh addressed the controversy surrounding the “borrowed” bicycle in a statement which reads.-
“My attention has been called to a post on social media by Ese Ukpeseraye. After reading the post and some follow-up comments, I swung into action. Ese’s post seems to have been grossly misunderstood, perhaps also because it didn’t seem to give proper context to the matter in perspective.”
The Minister clarified that Team Nigeria had initially qualified for a road race in cycling and was fully prepared with the necessary equipment. However, two weeks ago, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) reallocated additional slots to Nigeria, including the keirin and individual sprint events, which required different equipment.
“For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, a very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used. It’ll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment. To therefore get Ese to compete, the Federation through Ese’s Club in Europe and working with a German-owned Company, got a ‘Track Bike’ for our cycler Ese.”
The Minister emphasized that Ukpeseraye will compete in the individual sprint event on 9 August , for which she originally qualified.
“Tomorrow (Friday), the 9th of August 2024, Ese will race in an individual sprint, the race she originally qualified for.”
On a different note regarding Nigeria’s participation at the Olympic games and despite unfavourable results the sports minister has demanded continued support for the country’s athletes as he insists they’re indeed giving their all to make Nigeria proud.
