By Oluwole Sogunle

A para-athlete, Oluwakemi Ladipo, says she looks forward to winning an Olympic gold medal, donning the national colours, in her sporting career.

Ladipo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

She said that since her entry into the sports scene in 2007, she had won several laurels on the local scene representing Ogun and Bayelsa state, but she had her eyes on the international stage.

“I wish to make the national team, to run and win in the Olympics, God helping me, and with good sponsors,” Oladipo, whose sporting career has so far spanned 17 years said.

She said that actualising the dream could be facilitated by an environment that was conducive for para-athletes through provision of necessary equipment.

“Our major challenge on the wheelchair race, or para-athletes majorly, is our equipment.

“Our equipment are very expensive, individuals cannot easily afford it.

” With government intervention, Yes, I believe something good can come out of it” she said.

Ladipo said that presently, they were only managing some equipment left behind for them by a retired para-athlete and coach.

“All thanks go to my boss, Chief Aliu Adebayo, he was a former wheelchair racer before he retired.

“During his reign, he was able to acquire some wheelchairs that he used in training us, so it’s that one that we’ve been using.

“Even the equipment are getting old and outdated as new models are coming in, but thankfully enough, we’re still managing them and God has been helping us,” she said.

The para-athlete said that the government could also revisit an area of support it had rendered in the past.

“Before, what the government did was that, if you make the national team, there are wheelchairs available for you at the national, but for some time now that is no more the case, so if this can be revisited, and aid is given to states that want to procure, that would go a long way,” she said.

Ladipo said that, apart from the wheelchair, the government could also assist with other gadgets, hand gloves, and the like.

“If that can be done, it will be a timely intervention for us ,” the para-athlete, a graduate of Business Administration, said.

She said that the present scenario was that if one was not in the limelight, people didn’t seem to reckon with him or her.

*I will love for sponsors to come and sponsor our games, let them come and encourage us. Disability is not easy, and many of us don’t want to be beggars on the road.

“Let them come and encourage us. Let there be encouragement; we find solace, we find joy in this game that we play.

” Anyone you see on the road, introduce them to sports. Sports can take you a long way, even longer than you can imagine.

“With more of us in this game, that will be less of us on the streets,” she said.

Ladipo said that the government could also create a niche for PWDs in sports, to make them look forward to something that would make life easier for them after retirement. (NAN)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji