The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that twenty (20) sports will feature at the 23rd National Sports Festival in Enugu State, adopting a streamlined model drawn from the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
According to a statement issued by the NSC Director Information & Public Relations Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi on May 11, the clarification follows a meeting between the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and States’ Directors of Sports held in Abuja. The DG said the decision was taken at the last National Council on Sports meeting in Calabar to align with prevailing economic realities, and that the Commonwealth Games’ approach of merging some sports informed the new structure.
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The NSC reiterated its exclusive rights to organise and coordinate the National Sports Festival and assured states of improved communication through the Directors of Sports.
The 20 sports approved for the Coal City Games, Enugu 2026 are:
1. Athletics and Para Athletics
2. Badminton and Para Badminton
3. Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball (3×3)
4. Boxing
5. Canoeing and Para Canoeing
6. Cricket
7. Cycling
8. Darts
9. Football
10. Golf
11. Gymnastics
12. Judo
13. Mixed Martial Arts
14. Shooting and Para Shooting
15. Swimming
16. Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis
17. Tennis
18. Taekwondo
19. Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
20. Wrestling
The meeting was attended by States’ Directors of Sports representing the six geo-political zones, the Director of the National Sports Festival and Para Sports Department, and other key sports stakeholders.
