Sports
Hotel Pledges To Sponsor Sports Tournaments
The Art Hotel has promised to sponsor more teams and tournaments in Nigeria, Tidesports source reports.
The Art Hotel polo team are currently taking part in the Lagos Polo Tournament Open Cup, their first appearance in a polo tournament, with a newly assembled team made up of Team Leader Neku Edun of Nigeria, Sadiq Dantata from Nigeria, J.J Alba from Mexico, and Genaro Ringa from Argentina.
Managing Director, Art Hotel, Tunji Abdul, spoke about their plans for the community and their vision for the future.
“At the Art hotel, we believe that an active participation in our community is vital and as such we are delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Art Hotel Polo Team in the 2023 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament.
“At the Art Hotel, we not only look at “Art” in the traditional sense such as paintings and sculptures but also take the view that such visually stunning and competitive game as polo fits hand in glove with our vision of the differentiated arts and its extensive influence on culture in the widest sense both in Nigeria and abroad. We look forward to sponsoring teams and tournaments in the future,” Abdul said.
Team Leader Edun added, “It is our first time playing and at this level, but now, obviously, we want to win, and also the experience because it is important to learn from it and build on it for future events to come.
“We’re playing against teams that have been playing together for a long time, for this tournament, we are grateful to put the team together and getting used to each other and we hope to keep the team for future tournaments.”
The Art Hotel team lost to Trojan Hawk in their first game last Saturday and are now aiming to return with a win against their next opponents STC Shoreline when they meet tomorrow.
“We have been trying horses, we have done one team practice together, we have got horses given to us by different people, which we are really grateful for, and after this conference, we are going to watch our last video and know where we made mistakes because in the last game, we started off beating them but then they came around with more horsepower. We need to be better about anticipating and not quitting,” Edun said.
Alba and Ringa thanked Art Hotel and Nigerians for their hospitality, saying they felt very welcome in the nation and are loving the food.
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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