Grapevine

Olatoye, Onyekwere rue athletes’ lack of funding

Olatoye who finished 14th in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 66.41m in Paris revealed that she pays for everything she needs to train herself.

“Every year, me and my teammates, everything is out of pocket. We pay for our training, coaches medical and even competitions,” Olatoye told News Central TV.

“Everything is out of pocket. It’s not until we get to championships that we hear about potential grants.”

Although the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, announced that the athletes, both foreign and home-based were paid training grants at the Olympics, Olatoye claimed the said grant doesn’t add up to what they must have expended personally before the Games.

“Having trained for four years, being given the grant during the competition can’t pay for two per cent of what I pay out of my pocket for four years of training,” the African champion said.