Edo contingent at a National Sports Festival
By Patrick Omorodion
In a move to avoid accommodation crisis during the 23rd National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged Coal City Games, the National Sports Commission, NSC has made an arrangement for athletes and officials to arrive in two separate batches towards the success of the Games.
In a memo to States Sports Commissioners and Chairmen of Sports Commissions, the Main Organizing Committee, MOC of the NSF stated that it has “made arrangements for the accommodations of participating athletes and officials in two waves”.
The NSC in its memo signed by the Director General, Bukola Olopade stated that “this arrangement is designed to ensure effective coordination, adequate accommodation management and the smooth reception on contingents in line with the respective competition schedules of the various sports”.
As a result therefore, the approved sports for the Coal City Games have been grouped into two batches.
The first batch of sports to arrive are Volleyball, Shooting and Para-Shooting, Table Tennis and Para-Table Tennis, Cycling, Tennis, Weightlifting, Beach Volleyball and Basketball.
Other sports in the first batch are Badminton and Para-Badminton, Darts, Judo, Golf, Boxing, Football and Traditional Sports such as Ayo, Dambe and Kokowa.
The second batch of sports to arrive include Athletics and Para-Athletics, Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, Canoeing and Para-Canoeing, Taekwondo, Gymnastics, Cricket, Para-Powerlifting, Swimming and Wheelchair Basketball.
The NSC also advised the States to ensure that their contingents arrive in Enugu State two days before the scheduled commencement of their sports competitions. This, it says, is to facilitate proper accommodation arrangements, accreditation, technical briefings and other pre-competition activities.
The MOC emphasized that all States should “take note of this arrangement and ensure that their respective contingents comply strictly with the designated arrival schedules”, stressing that States “should make necessary travel and logistical arrangements to avoid premature arrival, congestion or difficulties associated with accommodation and the smooth conduct of the Games”.
“The cooperation and commitment of all States are highly solicited towards ensuring the successful, orderly and hitch-free conduct of the Coal City Games 2026”, the NSC appealed.
- The biennial Games is scheduled to begin on November 28 and run through to December 11, 2026. Athletes and officials are expected to start arriving on November 25 and 26, according to the NSC.
