NOC’s Sports for All Program to Celebrate Olympic Day

The Sports for All Commission, operating under the Nigeria Olympic Committee, has finalized arrangements for the 2026 Olympic Day celebration, originally scheduled for Saturday, 27 June 2027. The date has been moved forward by one week due to logistical considerations.

The event will now take place nationwide on 4 July 2026, according to the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), following an emergency meeting held on Friday, 6 June 2026.

The MOC believes that the one‑week postponement will give participating states sufficient time to prepare an appropriate celebration this year.

“As we speak, a total of 18 states have indicated their interest in hosting the event within their jurisdictions,” said Sports for All Commission Secretary Mr. Augustine Odigie. “These include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, and Jigawa. Others are Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara.”

He added that more states may express interest before the end of June 2026.

Almost all frontline states have already registered to host the celebration on 4 July 2026.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the NOC Sports for All Commission, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, praised Mr. Odigie for his tireless efforts to make the 2026 Olympic Day Celebration in Nigeria larger and better than previous editions.

Dr. Ibrahim also urged Commission members to collaborate closely to deliver the best possible organization. “You have always strived to achieve the best, and this year’s event should not be an exception,” he said.

Although Dr. Ibrahim acknowledged the challenges posed by the current tough business climate, he urged all members to give their best efforts to ensure a resounding success.

He explained that Olympic Day is an annual global event organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote mass participation in physical activities on a non‑competitive basis, aiming to raise public awareness about the ideals of sports as a vital tool for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Dr. Ibrahim, who is also President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), praised Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, head of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, for its continuous support of the Commission’s efforts to ensure the event’s annual success.