The National Sports Commission (NSC) has approved 20 sports that will feature at the Enugu 2026 Games, tagged: “Coal City Games”.
The clarification followed a meeting between the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and State Directors of Sports held in Abuja.
According to the Commission, the clarification became necessary to set the records straight after discussions with sports administrators and stakeholders regarding the number of sports approved for the festival tagged the Coal City Games.
Speaking during the meeting, Olopade reiterated the Commission’s exclusive responsibility to organise and coordinate the National Sports Festival. He explained that the decision to reduce the number of sports to 20 was taken during the last National Council on Sports meeting held in Calabar, taking into consideration the prevailing economic realities in the country.
The NSC boss further noted that the adoption of 20 sports aligns with the model being used for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where some sports are being merged to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Olopade assured stakeholders that the Commission would strengthen communication with states on issues relating to the National Sports Festival through the Directors of Sports.
The approved sports for the Enugu 2026 National Sports Festival are Athletics and Para Athletics, 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, as well as Wrestling.
The meeting was attended by State Directors of Sports, representing the six geo-political zones, officials from the National Sports Festival and Para Sports Department, alongside other critical stakeholders in the sports sector.