NSC Charges Team Nigeria To Fly Nation’s Flag With Pride At Dakar Youth Olympics

…Olopade urges young athletes to seize historic opportunity, targets 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has charged Team Nigeria’s contingent to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, to uphold the country’s image and compete with pride, discipline and patriotism.

The Director-General of the NSC, Hon Bukola Olopade, gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during a send-off ceremony for the young athletes ahead of their departure for Senegal on Thursday.

Olopade described the Games as a historic opportunity for the athletes to make their mark at the first Youth Olympic Games to be held in Africa, urging them to maximise the experience as they pursue their ambitions of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

He also assured the athletes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to their growth and development, both in sports and education.

“The Youth Olympics in Dakar is very historic, and you are all making history by being part of the first Olympic Games to be held in Africa. This is why I am very confident that these Games will mark the beginning of greatness for all of you,” Olopade said.

“We have selected you to represent the country in your various sports because you represent the core crop of our future stars. I want you all to stay focused, disciplined and passionate about your careers.”

The NSC boss said the Commission’s renewed emphasis on grassroots sports development was already producing promising young talents through initiatives such as the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) programme.

He noted that the Dakar Games would provide valuable international exposure for some of the country’s emerging athletes discovered through the initiative, which is part of the Commission’s strategy to build a strong pipeline of future champions.

The Nigerian contingent was presented in the country’s green and white national kits during the ceremony, as the NSC formally handed the athletes over to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) ahead of their departure.

Receiving the contingent, NOC President, Engr Habu Gumel, assured the Commission that the athletes would receive adequate care and support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the NOC throughout the competition.

Gumel also charged the athletes to uphold the principles of clean sport, assuring the Commission that they would compete fairly and return home without violating anti-doping rules.

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will hold in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, from 31 October to 13 November, with more than 2,700 young athletes from across the world expected to compete for honours.

Beyond the immediate challenge of winning medals, the Games represent an opportunity for Nigeria’s young athletes to gain international experience, demonstrate their potential and lay the foundation for future senior-level success.