NSC DG Olopade in Aberdeen receives athletes and officials ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Head of Mission of Team Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Hon. Bukola Olopade, arrived at Team Nigeria’s pre-match training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he received arriving athletes, coaches and officials ahead of the final stage of the country’s preparations for Glasgow 2026.

Olopade, who inspected facilities and accommodation, continued to welcome members of the Nigerian contingent upon their arrival, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to providing the best possible environment for athletes to excel on the international stage.

“We are here because preparation is everything. Our athletes deserve the best environment to train, recover and compete, and that is exactly what we provided in Aberdeen. We want every member of Team Nigeria to stay focused because the nation believes in them and we are confident that they will make Nigeria proud in Glasgow,” Olopade said.

The DG added that the Commission’s athlete-centric approach will continue during the Games.

“Our responsibility is to eliminate any avoidable distractions and allow our athletes and coaches to fully concentrate on performance. We have planned meticulously and I am pleased with what I have seen since arriving at the camp. The atmosphere is excellent, the facilities are first class and the athletes are in good spirits,” he said.

By Friday evening, 54 Nigerian athletes had successfully arrived at the Aberdeen camp, with more athletes and officials expected to join the contingent over the weekend.

Among Friday’s arrivals, received by the DG are captain and multiple Paralympic gold medalist Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Favor Ashe, Patience George-Okon, among others.

Aberdeen’s serene, high-performance training environment has been carefully selected to provide Team Nigeria with ideal conditions for acclimatisation, technical preparation and recovery before the athletes travel to Glasgow for the competition.

The contingent will spend the next three weeks at camp finalizing preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026.

Around 3,000 athletes from across the Commonwealth are expected to take part in the Games, competing in 10 sports.