With just four days to go, the much-anticipated 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships kicked off its arrivals phase on Saturday with the warm reception of the first batch of athletes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The early morning flight brought in athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, making them the first international contingent to arrive for the continental event scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Led by Head of Protocol Arabirin Aderonke, the Local Organising Committee’s (LOC) protocol team welcomed the Congolese delegation with smiles, Nigerian hospitality, and smooth coordination through arrival procedures.
“We are excited to receive the first set of athletes arriving for the championship,” Aderonke said. “This marks the beginning of what promises to be a historic and memorable competition. Our protocol teams are fully mobilized at the airports to ensure a smooth experience for all arriving delegations, as the National Sports Commission had demanded excellence from every subcommittee in the LOC.”
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The update was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, scheduled for July 16 to 20 at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, will feature elite young athletes from over 40 African nations competing for continental honours.