Nigeria Joins LA28 Pre-Games Meeting as Olympic Preparations Begin

Posted : 22 October 2026

Nigeria has joined representatives of national Olympic committees and other stakeholders in Los Angeles, United States, for a pre-Games meeting ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. The engagement marks an early step in the country's preparations for the next Summer Olympics, scheduled for July 14 to 30, 2028.

The Nigerian delegation comprised Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), and Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). Their participation highlights the need for cooperation between the country's sports development authorities and its Olympic leadership.

The meeting provides a platform for participating nations to engage with Olympic organisers, exchange information and discuss the requirements for the Los Angeles Games. It also allows national representatives to begin aligning their preparations with the organisers' plans.

Olopade said early engagement with Olympic officials was essential to Nigeria's ambition to improve its performance at LA28. He stressed that preparations must begin long before athletes arrive at competition venues.

“Preparations for the Olympic Games cannot begin when athletes arrive at the competition venue. They begin with deliberate planning, strong institutional coordination and early engagement with the Olympic movement,” Olopade said.

He added that Nigeria intends to build on lessons from previous Olympic campaigns. The country also wants to ensure that its athletes receive the necessary support, facilities and competitive opportunities to perform at the highest level.

“Our ambition is not simply to participate, but to prepare thoroughly and compete with distinction,” the NSC director general stated.

NOC President Gumel also emphasised the importance of collaboration between Nigeria's sports authorities and its Olympic movement. The partnership between the NSC and NOC will be important in coordinating preparations for Team Nigeria's participation.

The two institutions will need to work with national sports federations to support athletes through qualification competitions, training programmes and other preparations. Effective coordination will also be necessary for athlete selection, logistics and access to international competition.

The Los Angeles 2028 Games will mark the third time the American city has hosted the Summer Olympics, following its previous editions in 1932 and 1984. The event will bring together athletes from around the world across multiple sporting disciplines.

For Nigeria, the immediate task is to turn its early engagement with Olympic organisers into practical plans for athlete development and qualification. The NSC and NOC have indicated their commitment to a coordinated approach as the country works towards the Games.

The effectiveness of those preparations will depend on sustained planning, adequate athlete support and cooperation with the relevant sports federations throughout the qualification cycle.

Nigeria Joins LA28 Pre-Games Meeting as Olympic Preparations Begin

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics