Nigeria has begun early preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) emphasising planning and coordination ahead of the international competition.
The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, and the President of the NOC, Habu Gumel, represented Nigeria at a pre-Games meeting involving Olympic officials and representatives of national Olympic committees in Los Angeles, United States.
The meeting provided an opportunity for participating countries to engage with organisers, exchange information and discuss preparations for the Games.
Olopade said early engagement with Olympic organisers was important to Nigeria’s ambition of improving its performance at the Olympics.
“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,” he said.
He added that Nigeria intended to learn from previous Olympic campaigns and improve the support available to athletes ahead of the 2028 competition.
“We want to build on the lessons of previous Olympic Games, strengthen our preparations and ensure that our athletes have the support, facilities and competitive opportunities they need to represent Nigeria with pride,” Olopade said.
The NSC director-general also made clear that the country’s objective extended beyond simply participating in the competition.
“Our ambition is not simply to participate, but to prepare thoroughly and compete with distinction,” he said.
The joint participation of the NSC and NOC leadership highlights the importance of cooperation between sports administrators and the country’s Olympic movement as preparations continue.
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30, 2028.
For Nigeria, the focus in the coming months will be on translating early planning into practical programmes that can support athletes, strengthen qualification prospects and improve competitive readiness.
The NSC said it would continue working with the NOC on a coordinated preparation plan for Team Nigeria.