17 states set to host 2025 Olympic day celebrations — NOC

The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) has announced that 17 states across the country are prepared to host the 2025 Olympic Day celebration, scheduled to hold on June 28.

Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer of the NOC, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the event will officially be flagged off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, by NOC President, Habu Gumel.

States expected to participate include Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Kwara, FCT, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Kogi, Gombe, Osun, Imo, and Lagos, which hosts the NOC Secretariat.

The celebration will feature various demonstration sports and physical activities such as jogging, walking, and other fitness exercises aimed at promoting health, well-being, and stress reduction.

“In previous editions, Olympic Day featured only 5km and 10km races, which many found limiting. This year, based on popular demand from Olympic Movement advocates, the event has been broadened to include more diverse sporting activities,” Nezianya said.

He quoted Austin Odigie, the coordinating officer for the NOC’s Sport for All Commission, as saying the celebration has now evolved into a mass movement focused on encouraging fitness and inclusivity for all Nigerians.

Abdul Ibrahim, Chairman of the Sport for All Commission and President of the Weightlifting Federation of Nigeria, also called on state governments to fully engage with the initiative and promote grassroots participation in physical activity.

He urged states not yet participating to begin preparations for future editions and to leverage the Olympic Day as a platform to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle among citizens.