TWO of the world’s biggest sports championships are going on simultaneously in Barcelona, Spain, and Nairobi, Kenya. The Europeans began their athletics championships on Tuesday and we Africans on Wednesday, and that is where the similarity ends.

The Barcelona venue is heavenly, the atmosphere breath - taking and TV coverage superb. The Nyayo Stadium Nairobi where the African tournament is being held, looked derelict, electric cables laid around the entire field were uncovered, spectators sat on bare cement floor and the television coverage belied the fact that the industry has been in Africa for 50 years. Cameras positioning, directing and the quality of commentary were poor. Compared with the magnificent spectacles one saw in South Africa 2010 World Cup, the Nairobi show is an eyesore.

However, one should thank the cable television for covering the tournament, as no Nigerian television station ventured to transmit live. What is going on in Nairobi is the equivalent of the African Cup of Nations in football and the numbing indifference by government, the people of Nigeria and the media is unfortunate. Since the African Athletics Championships began in 1979, Nigeria have won seven out of 16, and 1998 was the last time Nigeria emerged leaders on the medals table. Compared to football, Nigeria have won the African Cup of Nations twice, 1980 and 1994, and in spite of the billions of naira squandered on the national team, the Super Eagles disgraced the country at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

How would you have felt if you saw the Super Eagles in non-national colours? This is what is happening to our athletes at the African tournament in Nairobi. When Nigeria’s quarter-miler Noah Akwu filed out for his men’s 400 meter race, he wore a green vest over a blue trunk, and Benjamin Adukwu used black trunk over green vest in his 100 metres men semi-final. Every other country wore smart and uniform kits, except Nigeria.

The fumbling of the AAAF officials apart, the long suffering Nigerian athletes will still do their best and cart home medals. Traditionally, we are unassailable in the sprints, men and women, and I do not see Nigeria surrendering the crown just yet.

I watched three Nigerian women sprinters Blessing Okagbare, Damola Osayomi and Agnes Osazuwa qualify for the final of the 100 metres   and if their luck holds, should make a clean sweep for Nigeria. In the men’s 100 men, the challenge is tougher, but Obinna Metu and Ogho-Ogene Egwero should be among the first four.

Nigeria are likely to win gold in the women low hurdles with Seun Adigun and in the 400 metre hurdles defending champion, Ajoke Odumosu is hot favourite.

Defending champions, South Africa won the first gold medal, men’s shot put, on the opening day, Wednesday and they made it a clean sweep.

They have been winning the African athletics championships in the last four editions, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 and Nigeria who should challenge them for the title are obsessed with football while other sports are fading away. Lord have Mercy.