Sports
C’Wealth Games: Nigeria To Feature In Seven Sports
The Sectary-General, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, yesterday said that Nigeria would feature in seven sports at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Games will hold from July 23 to August 3.
Popoola told newsmen in Lagos that the sports were athletics, table tennis, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, shooting and all the sports for the physically challenged (para-sports).
“We are participating only in sports that we believe we have medal winning prospects.
“We are going with the precise number of athletes that would be competing in the Games and no room for jamboree.
“We are assuring Nigerians that we are not going into the Games not for jamboree but to win medal,’’ he said.
According to him, the Games will be a spectacular one because all hands are already on deck to ensure that the country has outstanding performance.
“The National Sports Commission and the NOC are in a synergy to ensure that both parties achieve a common goal.
‘There is maximum cooperation between the two parties, finance is better managed and channelled to the right places,’’ he said.
Nigeria was ninth at the last Games in New Delhi, India in 2010 with 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.