By Amaechi agbo
The Main Organzing Committe of the National Intermediate Games, are in Lagos to commence a three-day high-level inspection and consultative visit from June 2 to June 4 as preparations intensify for the maiden edition of the Games.
The Games is a landmark initiative of the National Sports Commission, designed to strengthen Nigeria’s athlete development pathway and bridge the gap between the National Youth Games and elite-level competitions.
The inspection exercise will bring together members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), led by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, alongside officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), to assess the readiness of competition venues, athlete accommodation facilities and critical support infrastructure earmarked for the historic Games.
The inspection programme will begin on Tuesday, June 2, with strategic meetings between the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee before engagements with officials of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), one of the key institutional partners for the Games. Delegates will also inspect the UNILAG hostel facilities designated for athlete accommodation and proceed to Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), another major venue partner for the event. Both institutions have been actively collaborating with the Lagos State Sports Commission to ensure world-class delivery of the Games.
On the second day, attention will shift to some of Lagos’ foremost sporting facilities, including the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; the National Stadium Complex, Surulere; and the National Institute for Sports (NIS). The delegation will also pay a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose administration has demonstrated strong support for the successful hosting of the Games through the establishment of a Local Organising Committee and sustained investment in sports development.
The inspection tour will continue on June 4 with visits to the Elegbata Sports Centre, Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, which is being considered for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the Cricket Oval at Tafawa Balewa Square. The exercise will conclude with a post-inspection review meeting at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, where observations and recommendations will be harmonized to guide the final phase of preparations.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the National Sports Commission reiterated its commitment to delivering a world-class inaugural edition of the National Intermediate Games that will serve as a sustainable platform for talent identification, athlete development and long-term podium success for Team Nigeria.
The Commission noted that the inspection exercise represents a crucial milestone in ensuring that all technical, logistical, accommodation, security and operational requirements are aligned with international best practices and the vision of the Games.
The maiden National Intermediate Games is expected to attract emerging talents from across the country and further reinforce the Commission’s strategic objective of building a robust grassroots-to-elite sports development framework capable of producing future national and international champions.
