Sports
Eugene City Wins Hosting Right
Eugene has defended its
role in winning the right to host the 2021 World Championships.
The American city, linked to sportswear firm Nike, was given the event by the IAAF without a bidding process, a decision being investigated in France.
Gothenburg, which missed out, described the process as “bad ethics”.
But Eugene said it “adhered to all ethical and legal standards for organising, presenting and advocating for our bid, according to IAAF rules”.
IAAF president and former vice-president Lord Coe severed his links to Nike after questions over his role in the decision.
But in a statement, Eugene said it had submitted identical bids for the 2019 and 2021 World Championships, losing out to Doha in 2019.
It added: “The decision to award the 2021 World Championships to Eugene was made by the IAAF Council in a vote of 23-1.”
French officials are already investigating corruption allegations involving former IAAF president, Lamine Diack, with Coe quitting the Nike payroll two days after a BBC story suggested he had held talks with Diack and Nike about the awarding of the 2021 event.
Coe, who was reportedly paid £100,000 a year by Nike, said at the time that he “did not lobby anyone” over Eugene’s bid, but simply “encouraged them to re-enter another bidding cycle as they had a strong bid”.
Gothenburg bid chief, Bjorn Erikkson, said awarding the World Championships to Eugene had made him “really upset and for very good reasons”.
He told Tidesports source World Service: “What happened is bad ethics at least and definitely not professional.
“In the worst of cases it maybe also criminal, if somebody were there influencing the process, and that’s a question that I really want a good answer to.”
The former police officer also said he was not sure if Gothenburg would re-enter the bidding process, should it be re-opened.
“It’s up to the Gothenburg people, they don’t want to answer that question until they know why the last procedure was so unacceptable,” he told Tidesports source.
“If you are going to make business with these people you wish to know if they are professional, honest and serious, otherwise maybe you don’t want to do business at all.”
Coe said that awarding a World Championships without a bidding process “was not without precedence” – the 2007 World Championships in Osaka was one such occasion.
But Erikkson described that as “nonsense”.
He added: “If you behave idiotically and unacceptably is it better if you do it twice rather than once? Secondly there are no arguments for doing this, because we who are engaged in the sport wished to have a transparent process, to do it in disguise is not acceptable.”
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.
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