By Micheal Obasi
The National Sports Commission, NSC has confirmed that the 23rd National Sports Festival billed for Enugu state later in the year will feature 20 sporting events.
According to the commission the clarification has become necessary so as to set the records straight following the meeting of the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade with States’ Directors of Sports held in Abuja.
The DG reiterated the Commission’s exclusive rights to organise and coordinate the National Sports Festival and reaffirmed that the decision to reduce the number of sports to twenty(20) was taken at the last National council on sports meeting held in Calabar, in consideration of the prevailing economic realities in the country.
The DG further explained that the Commission’s decision to come up with a list of twenty (20) sports for the games is inline with the model being used for the 2026 Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland, where some sports were being merged.
The Sport Commission assured that there will be an improved communication with states on matters relating to the Sports Festival through the Director of Sports.
The list of the twenty(20) Sports approved for the Coal city Games, Enugu 2026 are ;
- Athletics and Para Athletic
- Badminton and Para Badminton
- Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball ( 3×3)
- Boxing
- Canoeing and Para Canoeing
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Judo
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Shooting and Para Shooting
- Swimming
- Table tennis and Para Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
- Wrestling
The meeting with the NSC Director General had in attendance, the 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.
