At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, athletes had to borrow attires from one another for podium appearances to collect medals.
The familiar occurrence of Nigerian teams appropriately kitted has again resurfaced as Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games get under way in the United Kingdom.
According to both AFP and BBC reports, it was a small sportswear manufacturer, MG Sportswear that came to Nigeria’s rescue just before the march past of the opening ceremony.
It happened at Tokyo when members of the Nigerian contingent arrived even in the attires of Arsenal and other sporting clubs.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, athletes have to borrow attires from one another for podium appearances to collect medals.
The now familiar show has unfolded in Birmingham. MG Sportswear in Kidderminster was approached to make hundreds of items on Tuesday after the team claimed they were let down by their suppliers.
Manager Gino Ruffinato said his 14 staff had been working around the clock to get the garments finished.
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As the Games begin, he will personally deliver the order to Birmingham later.
Mr Ruffinato said he initially thought Tuesday’s call was a “wind-up”.
“As it progressed I started getting emails with orders on, so at that point I thought, hang on, I think this is serious,” he said.
“When they hit us with the deadline saying it needs to be there for Friday and today was Tuesday there’s all the fabric, the print, the designs to get out in two days. It was a bit hair-raising.”
His team has been working long hours to fulfil the order, making 200 pieces of kit including running vests and shorts, staff tracksuits and even 400 Nigerian badges to adorn the sportswear.
The atmosphere at the factory has been “panic stations” he joked, but said: “Everybody’s embraced it, they’ve worked hard and done many hours to make sure it happens.”
Nigeria sent a 93-strong team to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, which opened on Thursday night. The sporting events are already under way and will continue over the next 11 days.
“I still pinch mysel, I’ll be looking on the telly and seeing the MG Sportswear brand for a national team,” Mr Ruffinato said. “It’s wonderful.
