EKO 2026: Final Preparations for National Intermediate Games

The National Sports Commission (NSC) is concluding preparations for the first National Intermediate Games, EKO 2026, with a Joint Technical Committee meeting held at the Sam Shonibare Community Development Centre in Surulere, Lagos. Chaired by Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the NSC and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the meeting approved key measures regarding athlete eligibility, talent identification, competition logistics, accommodation, transportation, medical services, and digital management of the Games.

Participation will be restricted to athletes born between January 1, 2008, and September 30, 2011. The committee emphasized the integrity of the Games through age and identity verification, requiring all athletes to undergo prescribed verification procedures.

The Games are intended to serve as a major platform for talent identification, integrating discovered athletes into Nigeria’s national athlete-development pathway. The committee also called for cooperation from participating states to support the development of identified athletes for national assignments.