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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

Nigeria leads Africa's push for 2034 Commonwealth Games

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nigeria is spearheading Africa's bid to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games, aiming to bring the event to the continent for the first time.
  • The National Sports Commission is actively engaging with the Commonwealth Games Federation after ministers resolved the Games should be held in Africa.
  • This renewed push follows Nigeria's strong performance at the recent Commonwealth Games, where they were the best-performing African nation.

Nigeria is leading a renewed continental effort to secure the hosting rights for the 2034 Commonwealth Games, marking a significant push to bring the event to Africa for the first time. The National Sports Commission (NSC) is spearheading this ambition, engaging directly with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

The resolutions reached at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow are already yielding positive outcomes for Africa’s ambition to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games.

— NSCStatement from the National Sports Commission regarding the progress of Africa's bid for the 2034 Commonwealth Games.

Following a previous unsuccessful bid for the 2030 Games, where India secured the hosting rights, Nigeria's focus has shifted to 2034. At the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko strongly advocated for Africa to be the sole consideration for hosting the 2034 Games. This advocacy led to a strategic meeting between the Nigerian delegation and the CGF.

Following the meeting, where NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko successfully advocated for Africa to be considered as host of the 2034 Games, the Nigerian delegation was invited to a strategic meeting with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

— NSCDetails of the engagement between Nigeria and the Commonwealth Games Federation after the Sports Ministers Meeting.

The discussions centered on the specific pathways, timelines, and requirements for awarding the 2034 hosting rights. The NSC expressed optimism, stating that resolutions from the Glasgow meeting are already yielding positive outcomes. The engagement signifies a crucial first step in translating the ministerial decision into a structured process, with Nigeria now actively involved in shaping the continent's hosting aspirations.

The engagement focused on the pathways, timelines and requirements for the award of the hosting rights for the 2034 Commonwealth Games, after ministers resolved that the Games should be held in Africa.

— NSCExplanation of the strategic meeting's focus with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

This renewed ambition is bolstered by Nigeria's recent performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Nigerian contingent, comprising 72 athletes across 10 sports, secured 24 medals, including 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze. This achievement placed them seventh overall and solidified their position as the top-performing African nation at the event.

The development represents an important first step in translating the ministerial resolution into a structured process, with Nigeria now actively engaged in discussions on the continent’s hosting ambitions.

— NSCSignificance of the ongoing discussions for Africa's hosting ambitions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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