Legendary table tennis star, Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike has been appointed into the esteemed International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission. In a decision made and approved by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Olufunke is one of five Olympians that were brought on board to make up the full composition of 23 AC members, in line with the statutes of the Olympic movement.
Other appointees are badminton player Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha from Iran, rowing star Hussein Alireza from Saudi Arabia, taekwondo’s Cheick Sallah Cisse from Ivory Coast and Colombian cyclist Mariana Pajon.
The Athletes Commission’s brief is to ensure athlete representation in the Olympic Movement’s decision making.
Funke Oshonaike is the holder of the record of highest number of Olympic Games appearances for Nigeria, appearing in seven Games consecutively from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2020.
She contested the election in 2024 to be brought in as a member of the AC and lost narrowly in an election that cast a few shadows on diversity and true inclusion in balanced representation of athletes on the Committee. This was what IOC President Coventry made a quick resolve to address, ensuring that gender representation and geographical diversity is reflected in the composition of the Commission.
Funke, now based in Germany, is very excited about this appointment, understandably. The soft-spoken star, who is also an esteemed member of the Leadership Board of Nigeria’s Diaspora Sports Council said, “It just feels so good to be recognised in this manner. I got very close in the election in Paris and when I did not make it, I thought it was over. So it did come as a pleasant surprise when I heard of this big appointment and I am grateful to the leadership of the IOC under President Coventry for the recognition. Young athletes and competing athletes look up to members of the Athletes Commission to stand up for them, and protect their interests, and this is what I intend to do in my own way, as a part of the wider team”.
Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Sports Council (NDSC) of which Funke is a pivotal figure, Dr ‘Tunde Adelakun, shared his, and the NDSC felicitations with her, saying, “this is a legend that Nigeria must be proud of at all times. She has sweated and toiled to represent her country SEVEN times in Olympic Games, going out for an eighth time as an Athletes Commission candidate last year in Paris, and is definitely on her way to a ninth appearance in Los Angeles in 2028. This is someone we are proud of, flying the flag of Nigeria at the highest possible level in sport”.
Dr Adelakun extolled the virtues of Funke, “she always had something about her – focused and humble. I am sure many young athletes will continue to learn a lot from her and her experiences and wisdom. As a body, the NDSC is very proud to have her as one of us, and we celebrate her…..a true legend who will continue to make us proud, without doubt”.
