The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that the 23rd National Sports Festival (NSF) in Enugu state will feature only 20 sporting events due to the prevailing economic situation.
This was one of the decisions taken at the meeting held in Abuja between the Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade and States’ Directors of Sports.
In the statement released yesterday, the DG reiterated the Commission’s exclusive rights to organise and coordinate the NSF and reaffirmed that the decision to reduce the number of sports to 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 20 sports for the games is in line with the model being used for the 2026 Commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland, where some sports were being merged.
The 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 and Golf.
Others are: Gymnastics; Judo; Mixed Martial Arts; Shooting and Para Shooting; Swimming; Table tennis and Para Table Tennis; Tennis; Taekwondo; Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting and Wrestling.