By ANDRE BISYIT
The National Sports Commission has clarified misconceptions surrounding the sporting events to be featured at the 23rd National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu State later this year, confirming that 20 sports have been officially selected for the championship.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Dr. Kehinde Ajayi, Director of Information and Public Relations of the Commission, and made available to THE NIGERIA STANDARD Sports Desk.
The statement explained that the clarification became necessary to set the records straight following the recent meeting between the Director-General of the Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and states’ directors of sports held in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Director-General reiterated the Commission’s exclusive responsibility to organise and coordinate the championship.He disclosed that the decision to reduce the number of sports to 20 was taken during the last National Council on Sports meeting held in Calabar, in line with the model adopted for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and in consideration of the prevailing economic realities in the country.
Olopade assured states of improved communication on matters relating to the championship through their respective Directors of Sports.
The sporting events approved by the Commission include Athletics and Para Athletics, Badminton and Para Badminton, Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing and Para Canoeing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts and Football.
Others are Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Mixed Martial Arts, Shooting and Para Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, as well as Wrestling.
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by states’ Directors of Sports representing the six geo-political zones, the Director of the National Sports Festival and Para Sports Department, alongside other critical sports stakeholders.