Follow Us on Google
No fewer than 18 states have confirmed their participation in the 2026 Olympic Day Celebration following the decision by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Sports For All Commission to postpone the nationwide event by one week.
The annual celebration, originally scheduled for June 27, will now take place across the country on July 4, 2026, after the Main Organising Committee (MOC) approved the adjustment at an emergency meeting held on June 6.
According to the committee, the postponement was necessitated by logistical considerations and is expected to provide participating states with additional time to adequately prepare for a successful celebration.
States that have so far indicated interest in hosting the event include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, Imo and Jigawa. Others are Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara States.
Secretary of the Sports For All Commission, Mr. Augustine Odigie, disclosed that more states are expected to join the list of hosts before the end of June.
He noted that most of the commission’s frontline states have already completed their registration for the nationwide exercise scheduled for July 4.
Other News
Chairman of the NOC Sports For All Commission, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, commended the efforts of Odigie for his commitment towards ensuring that this year’s celebration surpasses previous editions.
Dr. Ibrahim also urged members of the commission to work collectively to guarantee a successful and memorable event.
“You have always strived to achieve the best and this year’s event should not be an exception,” he said.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the current economic climate, the commission chairman called on stakeholders to remain committed and give their best efforts towards delivering a successful programme.
He explained that Olympic Day is an annual global initiative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) aimed at promoting mass participation in physical activities and encouraging healthy lifestyles through sport.
Dr. Ibrahim, who is also President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), further praised the leadership of the Nigeria Olympic Committee under Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel for its consistent support towards the successful organisation of the annual event.
