2026 Olympic Day celebration postponed by one week
The main organisers of the Sport-For-All Commission under the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) have announced a one-week postponement of the 2026 Olympic Day celebration.
Initially scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, the nationwide event will now take place on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The decision to shift the date was made on Friday, June 6
during an emergency meeting.
According to the organizers, the shift in date is to enable participating states have sufficient time to organise local celebrations on a day completely free from other conflicting commitments and logistical bottlenecks.
Addressing members during the emergency meeting, the Chairman of the NOC Sport-For-All Commission, Dr Abdul Ibrahim, acknowledged the challenges posed by the current tough business climate.
However, he urged all members to give their best efforts to ensure a resounding success.
“You have always strived to achieve the best, and this year’s event should not be an exception,” Dr Ibrahim charged the committee.
He further commended the leadership of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), led by Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel, for its steadfast support of the Commission’s efforts to ensure the event’s annual success.
So far, not less than 18 states have officially indicated interest in hosting this year’s celebrations.
Among the frontline states that have tentatively indicated interest to participate in the 2026 Olympic Day celebration are, Delta, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Oyo, Anambra, Zamfara, Imo, Yobe, Kogi, Sokoto and Adamawa even as the organizers are still waiting for other states to indicate interest in the exercise.
Meanwhile, the NOC has appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropic individuals, and the general public to join the movement to foster national unity, bridge generational gaps, and build a healthier society through the social joy of exercise.
It also solicits for corporate organisations to identify with the programme by donating items to the body in order to enable it organize a successful programme.
Olympic Day is an annual global event organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote mass participation in physical activities on a non-competitive basis.
The initiative aims to raise public awareness about the ideals of sports as a vital tool for promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.
