Lagos targets new standard with Intermediate Games

The Local Organising Committee of the maiden National Intermediate Games has promised to set a new standard for sports competitions in Nigeria as Lagos prepares to welcome young athletes from across the country from October 1 to 15, The PUNCH reports.

Lagos was awarded the hosting rights for the inaugural National Intermediate Games by the National Sports Commission, with the state determined to deliver a memorable debut edition.

Tagged EKO 2026, the National Intermediate Games were conceived under the NSC’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy and are designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite sports by creating a structured pathway for athletes aged 15 to 18.

According to the NSC, the age bracket represents a critical stage in athlete development, when promising young talents require proper competition, monitoring and support to progress to the elite level.

Recalling that Lagos hosted the first edition of the National Sports Festival in 1973, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sam Egube, assured that the state would deliver an event befitting its reputation as the Centre of Excellence.

“We will host excellently. After all, this is the State of Excellence. We want to reassure you that what Mr Governor has said is going to stand,” Egube said during a media parley on Tuesday.

“We are going to do everything to make this competition a remarkable one. The kind of record that we are going to set will be something that many other states will try to match.”

Egube also said the Games would promote national unity and togetherness beyond the competition for medals.

“Lagos will be welcoming about 15,000 young athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 to compete for glory. But this competition isn’t just about honour; it is about national unity and togetherness. When people come together, nothing can stop them from achieving what they set out to do,” he said.

Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, and Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, who serve as co-chairmen of the LOC also emphasised the readiness of Lagos to host a successful event.

The Teslim Balogun Stadium will serve as the main arena, while other venues include the National Stadium, Surulere; Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba; Agege Township Stadium; Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan; and the Elegbata Sports Complex.

The state has also secured access to institutional facilities, including the Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan; TBS Cricket Oval; Yaba College of Technology; and the University of Lagos.

Several sub-committees have also been established to oversee different aspects of the Games and ensure their smooth delivery.