Sports
Sport Entertainment Taekwondo Holds In Abuja ‘Morrow’
The Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) will hold the sixth CCSF Invitational Taekwondo Open tomorrow at the Indoor Basketball Hall of the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
According to the foundation, 100 youth athletes, comprising 64 men and 36 women, from six Abuja-based clubs are confirmed for the event. The FCT Taekwondo Association sanctioned event will use an electronic display scoring system, while the competition will be in a round robin format to ensure participants get enough exposure and experience.
To engage spectators, the organisers said they had injected many fun activities into the event. These include a free morning aerobic/fitness class, fun table tennis and video games areas and a bouncing castle for children.
Vendors have also been engaged to provide food and drinks to spectators, and DJs will liven the atmosphere with music all day, they said. To cap off the day, an outdoor dance-off competition will help thrill FCT residents to a sports entertainment themed event, CCSF said.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Medalist and CCSF founder, Chika Chukwumerije, highlighted the importance of fusing entertainment with sports to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria.
“We want to organise an event that anybody would want to come to on a Saturday morning in a summer holiday. The public longs for and deserve these kinds of programmes regularly and sports have always been perfectly poised to satisfy this demand, while simultaneously developing sports at the grassroots.”
The country’s captain to the London 2012 Olympics and former African Champion promised a well-organised event that would be memorable for both competitors and spectators.
“We want young athletes to be properly exposed, so it is important for officiating to be fair and transparent and operations to run without hitches. We also want our guests who come to the event to have a great time experiencing various things,” he said.
Chukwumerije, who took a sabbatical after successfully guiding Nigeria’s second ever female Taekwondo Olympian, Elizabeth Anyanacho, to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, explained the current target of his foundation.
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.