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Tag: Commonwealth Games

  • ‘Incredible India’ edge Nigeria to Centenary Commonwealth Games

    ‘Incredible India’ edge Nigeria to Centenary Commonwealth Games

    Nigeria’s hopes of bringing the Commonwealth Games to Africa for the first time have once again been dashed after  Indian  city of  Ahmedabad   was selected ahead of Abuja to host the 2030 Centenary Games.

    The evaluation commission of Commonwealth Sport chose Ahmedabad, in western India, over Nigeria’s capital, ending months of anticipation and marking the second time Abuja has lost a hosting bid — the first being for the 2014 Games, which went to Glasgow.

    Ahmedabad, home to the world’s largest sports arena, the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, will now welcome athletes from 74 nations and territories when the Games open in 2030. The decision is expected to be ratified at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

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    Dr. P. T. Usha, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, hailed the selection as “a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth and strengthen international partnerships across the Commonwealth.”

    The setback means Africa’s long wait to host the Games continues, despite Nigeria’s strong technical presentation and commitment to using the event to promote youth development and continental unity.

    Commonwealth Sport, however, noted it would work with Nigeria to “accelerate its hosting ambitions” and consider Abuja for the 2034 Games — offering a glimmer of hope that Africa’s turn may finally come.

    The 2030 edition will celebrate 100 years since the inaugural Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

  • Nigeria’s ready, willing to host  Commonwealth Games, says  Tinubu

    Nigeria’s ready, willing to host  Commonwealth Games, says  Tinubu

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared Nigeria’s readiness to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, pledging full government support to deliver the first-ever edition of the sporting event on African soil.

    Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, the President assured the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee that Nigeria possesses the capacity, infrastructure, and political will to stage a world-class Games.

    “What I can assure you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we actually want this. It’s been 100 years and the Games have not been held on any soil in Africa. The President has written a Letter of Guarantee; his full weight is behind this bid”, Tinubu told the delegation

    He stressed that the Commonwealth stands for inclusivity and diversity, values which align with Nigeria’s vision for hosting. 

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    He said his administration views sports not merely as recreation, but as a driver of youth empowerment, unity, and national development.

    “The element of inclusivity is what Commonwealth is, and we hope that will be to our benefit,” he said, noting that Nigeria has already undertaken reforms to reposition sports. 

    “The President intentionally scrapped the Ministry of Sports and created a National Sports Commission to drive sports development”, he said.

    The President assured the Evaluation Committee that all infrastructure, security, and hospitality requirements would be met ahead of schedule. 

    He also emphasised that the Games would leave behind a transformative legacy for Nigeria’s youth and sporting culture.

    Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, argued that Africa deserves the honour of hosting, pointing out that 22 of the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations are on the continent. 

    “The President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, if we win the bid, as a celebration of the country’s growing force in sports, beyond just participation,” he added.

    Nigeria’s bid team also made a strong case with detailed proposals. 

    Habu Gumel, President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, pledged that the country would deliver an environmentally sustainable Games. 

    Mainasara Illo, Chairman of the Bid Committee, unveiled key plans including 15 sporting events, with football introduced to broaden excitement, global visibility, and audience engagement.

    The visiting team, led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance, commended Nigeria’s preparations and hospitality. 

    “I have been most thrilled by the passion of the Nigerian people in all their endeavours, including sports,” he remarked.

    Hall noted that as the Commonwealth approaches its centenary milestone, diversity and inclusion will play a central role in selecting the 2030 host.

    Top government officials attended the reception, including ministers of Information, Aviation, Culture, Police Affairs, and Housing. 

    Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and India’s Ahmedabad are the two cities officially bidding to host the Games. 

    The final decision will be made at the Commonwealth Games General Assembly in November 2025, after a comprehensive evaluation process.

  • Commonwealth Games, NOC holds drug-abuse seminar for secondary schools

    Commonwealth Games, NOC holds drug-abuse seminar for secondary schools

    Under the auspices of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the Commonwealth Games, Nigeria (CGN), will organise a programme on the negative effects of drug abuse on Secondary students.

    The event will be held at the Olympafrica Centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, on Monday, March 10.

    The Public Relations Officer of the NOC, Tony Nezianya , explained  in a statement that the objective of this programme is to uphold the fundamental values of the Commonwealth by promoting unity, equity, and youth empowerment.

    It also aims to raise awareness of key global issues affecting our communities while serving as a strategic platform to address social vices and drive positive societal change.

    The Secretary-General of the NOC. Tunde Popoola, emphasised that the programme on drug abuse would be used to address one of the social vices plaguing our society.

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    It will also promote social interaction among the students, allowing them to meet other school students and learn more about the activities carried out by CGN.

    The programme is open to students aged 14 to 17 in both public and private schools.

    Not less than 15 schools have been invited to participate in the seminar.

    Youths from Amuwo Odofin using the Olympafrica will also participate in the programme.

    A renowned Medical Doctor, Dr Adebukola Bojuwoye, will facilitate the programme and will educate the students and other participants on the negative effects of drug use in communities and how sports can be used as a corrective measure to address these issues that are prevalent in society.

    The students participating in the programme will receive branded T-shirts, a certificate of participation, and one volleyball, basketball, or football each for the 15 schools and football for the youth using the Olympafrica Centre.

    The programme is expected to begin at 10 am and to terminate at 5 pm.

    The President of the NOC, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel will declare the event.

  • Glasgow secure funds to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

    Glasgow secure funds to host 2026 Commonwealth Games

    Glasgow is set to be named host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after government funding was secured for the event.

    The Australian state of Victoria was due to host the games but withdrew last year due to rising costs.

    Following lengthy negotiations with organisers, the Scottish government has now signed off on staging the 2026 Games.

    It comes after the Commonwealth Games Federation pledged a £100m investment and the UK government also guaranteed support. Late last week, the Australian authorities also promised several million pounds to help Glasgow’s offer.

    The decision comes as organisers have sought to reassure the Scottish government that no public money was needed for the delivery of the Games.

    Glasgow did host the 2014 games, but the event in 2026 will be scaled back – with fewer venues and the number of sports to be reduced from 18 to 10-13.

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    Ian Reid CBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “Today Glasgow 2026 is one step closer to becoming a reality and we are delighted that both the Scottish and UK governments have backed our proposal.

    “We have been clear from the outset that our Games concept for Glasgow 2026 aligns with the CGF’s strategy to make the Games more accessible for future hosts, whilst ensuring that public funds are not required. Glasgow is one of the few cities in the Commonwealth that can deliver on time given its world class facilities, experienced workforce and strong supply chain.”

    “This is a really exciting opportunity and we will be working hard over the coming days to bring the final pieces of the puzzle together. I would like to thank both the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia for their confidence and financial contributions to the project, which have ensured that the Games can continue, that public funds will not be required and which delivers a significant economic boost to the City of Glasgow and to Scotland.”

  • Ikoyi Club 1938 grooming next generation of swimming superstars — VP

    The Vice-President, Swimming Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Oloyede Obatoyinbo, on Tuesday said the club was aiming at producing the next generation of swimming superstars for the country.

    Obatoyinbo made the assertion in an interview with our reporter while reviewing the activities of the club in recent times and the preparation for the Ansberg Competition in G

    Newsmen  reports that Ikoyi Club recently hosted the Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Club Swimming Gala where private primary and secondary schools competed for honours.

    The swimmers from the club are also preparing to represent the country at the Swimfest Swimming Competition in Ansberg, Germany beginning on May 18.

    It is worthy of note that the Team Ikoyi Club 1938 is the defending champions of the 35 clubs competition for swimming clubs from all over the world.

    On the role young swimmers from the club could play in the development of swimming in Nigeria, Obatoyinbo said that they were more than ever ready to take the world by storm.

    “We have a couple of excellent swimmers in the club, young future medal hopeful. They have the right training, and good facilities for them to excel.

    “I am proud of these young swimmers from different ages, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16, these are the right age for development in the sport.

    “We have been producing the right talents Nigeria needs; last year, we went to Germany to defeat all the world superstars to emerge champions of the Swimfest.

    “This is a remarkable achievement for us being world champions and we are ready to do more; this year we are going to Germany to defend the title we won last year,’’ he said.

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    Obatoyinbo said the club’s record on the domestic scene was also what they would latch on to make sure that the swimmers would be the national champions.

    “I must say that in the last Chief of Naval Staff ( CNS ) Championships in Oct. 2017, countrywide, we had about 24 swimmers that make up Group 1 13-14, and Group II 14-16.

    “In Group I, Ikoyi Club 1938 fielded 6 out of the 12 swimmers all over the country, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, and Ondo, this comes to mind how important our swimmers are to the national competition.

    “We are aiming to have more of our swimmers emerge to represent the country not only at national events but at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics. We want to produce gold medallist at Olympics.

    “We are also training hard to retain our position at the Ansberg tournament in Germany, our swimmers are training day and night to be in shape for the competition,’’ he said.

    On the grassroots development of swimming in the country, an enthusiast and board member of the Aquatics Federation of Nigeria, ( AFN ), Joseph Odobeatu ( OJezz ), said that the country was right on track.

    “Competitions like this is what the nation needs for the development of swimming, this affords the young swimmers the opportunity to showcase their talents.

    “Those swimmers we have seen so far here have proved beyond doubt that they are the future of the country. They are well trained while some also visit the National Stadium Swimming Pool for training.

    “With the National Stadium swimming pool coming back to life, many swimmers are gradually coming back to training. The facility is the best in the country for now.

    “We have a good measure of maintenance culture which is good for the swimmers,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Team Nigeria in cloud nine over Amusan’s Gold

     

    She went, she saw and she conquered.  That is the best way to capture the fit achieved by Nigerian sprinter, Oluwatobilolba Amusan after clinching gold in the  100m hurdles at commonwealth Games.

    The golden run took Nigeria’s gold tally to eight. Amusan braced the tap in 12.68 seconds leaving behind highly rated Jamaican duo of Danielle Williams and Yanique Thompson. The Jamaicans no doubt gave the Nigerian a good chase finishing in record times of 12.78 seconds and 12.97 seconds respectively.

    The golden gold added by Amunsan on Friday, now takes Team Nigeria’s medal haul to 18 made up of 8 Gold, 5 Silver and 5 Bronze.

    The feat achieved by Amusan Sportinglife.ng gathered has taken jubilation at the  Nigeria house in  GoldCoast to the zenith even as the contingent remains hopeful of picking something extra before the curtain falls on the Games.

    This however will not be the first time Amusan will be having sweet romance with Gold in the course of her career.

    Recall that she claimed gold in the 100 metres hurdles event at the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championships in Addis Ababa.

    while making her debut at the All-Africa Games she won gold in the 100 metres hurdles event in 2015 .

    She was also a Silver medallist at the 2013 African Youth Championships held in Warri Delta state.

  • C/Games: Nigeria pockets two Silver medals

     

    Nigeria successfully earned two Silver medals Monday at the ongoing Commonwealth Games with a Silver coming from the Table tennis and the second from Shortput, even as the Nation remains hopeful of further laurels.

    The men’s table tennis team lost 3-0 to India to claim Silver.Sharath Achanta beat Bode Abiodun 3-1 in the first game despite Abiodun winning the first set 11-4.

    Segun Toriola was the next up for the Nigerian team but after taking the first set 12-10, the most experienced campaigner in the team lost his way losing the next three, 11-3, 11-3, and 11-4.

    The doubles team of Olajide Omotayo and Abiodun could not stop the onslaught of Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, who beat the Nigerian team 11-8, 11-5, and 11-3. India, therefore, took the gold as Nigeria won silver, the first medal to be won by Team Nigeria in Australia.

    In the shortput event it was American based Chukwuebuka Enekwechi that fired the Nation to the podium, hitting a personal best of His 21.14m

    New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh won gold, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 21.41m while Tim Nedow of Canada came third with a season best throw of 20.19m. Nigeria’s Eke Kalu, however finished twelfth with a throw of 17.86m.

    Meanwhile, Seyi Ogunlewe finished fourth in the men’s 100m final with personal season’s best of 10:19 seconds. His compatriot Enoch Olaoluwa Adegoke finished seventh, running 10:34 seconds.

    South Africa’s Akani Simbine won the 100m gold with a time of 10:03 seconds followed closely by countryman Henricho Bruintjies who ran 10:17 seconds. Jamaica’s Yohan Blake edged out Ogunlewe to win the bronze medal.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Commonwealth Games: Hursey Not too young to win

     

    The battle for glory in this year’s Commonwealth Games will begin any moment from now.  It will feature athletes who are regulars with loads of experience behind them as well as new comers who despite their limited exposure will be hoping

    to take the event by storm and possibly spring a surprise. What it means is that regulars with their wealth of experience must be on their guard or be edged out of the Podium. Among those who will be hoping to turn spring a surprise is 11 year old Table Tennis prodigy Anna Hursey.

    she is a 5ft 3in table tennis phenomenon who will represent Wales at the in Australia.

    she is heading to the Games with fantastic resume despite her age. she is European No 1 for her age, world No 18 for Under 15s, best in Britain at Under 18s and Wales’s youngest ever senior international in any sport.

    ‘Sometimes the older girls get really annoyed when they lose to me and they kick the barriers and stuff,’ she says with a little giggle.

    she is tipped as one of the athletes that will arrest attention in GoldCoast being the Games youngest ever competitors and the youngest to represent Wales.Hursey took up the sport aged five, and won a match at last year’s European championships.

    If she eventually wins in Australia, she will definitely have her story re-written beginning from where and how it all started in china expectedly where her mother Phoebe is from and it is where she took her daughter on holiday aged five. Hursey had picked up a bat for the first time a few months earlier and while in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, her mother brought her to a local coach for a session.

    ‘It wasn’t anything we had planned on that occasion,’ says her father, Lawrence, an Englishman who works in the criminal justice system in Cardiff and had dabbled in table tennis as a club player.

    ‘What became apparent was that she had some technique. When she came back she went to her local club and one of the national coaches spotted her and asked if she could join the Welsh set-up. That was at five. From there it really snowballed very fast.’

    Within a year, Hursey was Welsh under 11s champion and her family relocated their home from Swansea to Cardiff to be nearer to a table tennis club that allowed her to train more often. Hursey was only six when her parents made the call to back her talent with a move and that decision is paying off and set to take her to the next level.

  • Doping: Indian doctor gets Commonwealth warning

     

    Indian boxing team doctor Amol Patil has received a reprimand from the Commonwealth Games Federation’s court for breaches of its no-needle policy.

    Syringes were found in the athletes’ village prompting an investigation by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the CGF’s medical commission followed by a CGF court hearing.

    Dr Patil, attending his first Commonwealth Games, administered vitamin B by injection to an athlete that was feeling unwell.

    The CGF court found that Dr Patil had breached the no-needle policy by leaving needles, in the room while he went to the athletes’ village polyclinic to obtain bins for the disposal of the needles.

    Under the no-needle policy needles are required to be stored in a central secured location with restricted access.

    A CGF statement said that Dr Patil, upon questioning, had ‘co-operated in disclosing all medication in his possession’ and that in the circumstances the court’s decision was to ‘issue a strong written reprimand’ to Dr Patil.

    A copy of the reprimand letter will be served on the chef de mission of the Indian team.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Commonwealth Games: Club engagement stops Quadri

    Following the second leg match of Sporting club in the ETTU Champions League, Aruna Quadri will be the last member of the table tennis team to arrive for the 2018 Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia.

    Quadri, who is one of the key players in Sporting of Portugal, will be leading his team away to a Russian side in the second leg of the Champions League. Despite losing the first leg 0-3 to the defending champion, Sporting is hoping for an upset in Moscow when both sides clash on April 6.

    With this development, the Nigerian table tennis team will be without the star player as they begin campaign in the team event of the championship on April 5.

    However, England and Singapore have expressed their intention to topple Nigeria and India when the table tennis event serves off on April 5.

    England captain, Paul Drinkhall believes they are primed to dominate Nigeria and others in Gold Coast.  “We are going to Australia to show what we can do and we are aware of the quality of Nigeria, Singapore and India. We believe we can do our best this year and dominate the event,” he said.