Kehinde Ijaola, one of Nigeria’s most experienced umpires, has shared a very stunning revelation after officiating in his first ever Olympics Games.
The Ogun State-based White Badge ITF Umpire was the only Nigerian official picked by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for the tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In a chat with Nigeria Tennis Live on arrival from France where the event took place, Ijaola, the former president of the Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association (NTUA), shared his excitement with his latest milestone as a tennis umpire.
“It was a nine-day event and officials were selected from all the regions across the world. Asia, Africa, Europe and America. What ITF did this year was to ensure that the officials were 50-50. 50% for male, 50% for female.
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“We had the international technical official where I belonged for the duration of the Olympics, they also had the NTO – that’s like the National Tennis Officials, picked from France so they’re French officials.
“So, the ITO comprised bronze, white, gold and silver badge umpires. For officials who have not officiated at the level of the Olympics, it’s a different tournament and a totally different experience. It’s different from the Grand Slams because it is a team event and the greatest of all events,” Mr. Ijaola generously explained.
When asked how he felt about being the only Nigerian selected to officiate at the Olympics, he said: “It’s a joyful thing for me to be a part of it, and I believe it’s a dream come true as well. I never expected it but God did it. I went there and I came back successfully.
“It was really challenging but I thank God that my performance was top notch (as usual). I was the only umpire invited from Nigeria but some other nations were lucky to get two umpires at the Olympics.
“Like I said, it was a totally different experience because you want to make sure you don’t make mistakes from day 1 and be sure that you’re doing the right thing”.
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Speaking further, he revealed how important it was for him to have officiated at the Olympics since he had officiated in every other big tennis event across the globe.
“I believe I was lucky to have attended the Olympics because if I did not attend the Paris Olympics, I would say I have not achieved my aim as an official,” he began.
“I’ve been to ATPs, I’ve been at Grand Slams, I’ve been at WTT (Junior and Senior), I’ve done done Nationals but the only one I’ve not done is the Olympics, so I’m happy that I could finally go to Paris for this competition.
“I’m grateful to the ITF and I also want to thank the federation for their support in terms of making sure our officials are where they are supposed to get to,” Ijaola added.
He also appreciated the NTF president, Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju for the support, stating: “Many thanks to the federation president. When I told him that I had been selected, he offered his prayers and congratulated me.
“Same goes to Mr. Edmund Ajoge, he also was very happy for me that I could finally get to officiate at the Olympics because I’ve been doing well”.
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On how frequently or how soon he expects Nigeria to get the call to officiate at such an important event in the future, he expressed his optimism that other Nigerian umpires would get the same opportunity.
He stated, however, that the competition to get to the Olympics is getting stiffer owing to latest developments by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
“I congratulate other officials in Nigeria because I believe one day, they will also get this kind of opportunity, because it’s difficult these days and at the next Olympics, they’ll deploy technology rather than line umpires.
“But I believe we can still get slots in the future to officiate at a very special event like the Olympics. I thank God for the opportunity and for taking me there and bringing me back without making mistakes,” the tennis umpire told Nigeria Tennis Live.