Team Nigeria cyclists will train in Manchester for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This is one of the fallouts from a meeting between the National Sports Commission, Cycling Federation of Nigeria and British Cycling Association on Tuesday.
The British Cycling Association delegation led by Commercial Strategy Manager Izza Ourzik was on a collaborative visit to Nigeria. The three-pronged collaboration focused on supporting the development of cycling in Nigeria; ensuring a culture of winning fairly in both the Olympics and Paralympics, as well as impacting on the society through sports and cycling.
Furthermore, an agreement was reached for the Team Nigeria cycling contingent to prepare in Manchester ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Responding, an elated National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko assured the delegation of the Commission’s support towards the actualization of the set goals.
His words, “Our job here is to provide the enablers for sports development in the country. We will make the soil fertile for well meaning endeavours such as this to thrive. This is a collaboration that will make our society better in the long term. Cycling is not just a sport in the country. You see bikes everywhere. For us it is a way of life.”
He sought the cooperation of those involved in the partnership to make cycling less elitist.
“Cycling is seen more as an elitist sport but that is not so. This is a populous nation with abundance of talents. We have to join forces to take this sport to the schools and grassroots and make it less elitist. Let’s take cycling to the people. Let them own it”, he added.
Speaking earlier, NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade expressed the Commission’s commitment towards the advancement of cycling as a sport in tandem with its enormous impact in the society.
“At the Chef de mission meeting in Glasgow I was told that cycling will be part of the sports to be competed for at the Commonwealth Games. I liaised with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and was informed that we have huge prospects in the sport, so I quickly contacted the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board and we decided to include cycling as one of the sports we will be participating in in Glasgow”, he said.
“I must point out that CFN is one of the most vibrant Federations we have. This collaboration with the British Cycling Association will help us to render more support to this highly thriving sport”, he concluded.
Also at the meeting were the members of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria led by the President Giandomenico Massari.
