Falilat Ogunkoya, 1996 Olympics bronze medallist and former African track and field champion, has urged the federal government and the private sector to support school sports.

Ogunkoya made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual track and field medal at the Olympic Games.

Speaking on Friday in Abeokuta, she said the only way the country could return to its glory days was to return to the basics.

“We have to go back to the schools. The government and the private sector need to support school sports by bringing all the students in secondary schools together for a competition.

“After the competition, you will discover them; that is where and how I started,” Ogunkoya said.

The Olympian said it was in the schools that good athletes are discovered and harnessed, adding that there was a need to put structures in place for their discovery and nurture to stardom.

The 1999 All-African 400m gold medallist further noted that she was impressed with the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged the Gateway Games and expressed hope that new future athletes would be discovered.

“I want Ogun to win more medals. Since athletics has started, I hope we have people coming around,” Ogunkoya said.

At the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi, she won a silver medal in the 200m.

In 1995, at the All Africa Games in Harare, she also won a silver medal in the 400m and at the 1999 Games in Johannesburg, she won a gold medal in the 400m race, among others.

(NAN)