Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has challenged Nigeria’s younger athletes heading to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, to seize the chance as a stepping stone in direction of representing the nation on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Sports247.ng studies.
Speaking in the course of the official send-off ceremony for Nigeria’s contingent, Olopade delivered an inspiring message to the athletes, urging them to embrace self-discipline, self-belief and willpower as they put together to compete towards a number of the world’s best rising skills.
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The sports activities administrator emphasised that the Youth Olympics shouldn’t be considered merely as one other worldwide competitors however as an necessary platform able to shaping their future sporting careers.
“This is a platform that builds you. Some of you, if you take it seriously, towards LA 2028,” Olopade declared.
He expressed his private ambition to see members of the Nigerian contingent progress from competing at youth degree to representing the nation on the senior Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“I want to see you in LA. I want to see you jump in LA,” he advised the athletes.
Olopade additionally drew inspiration from his private sporting expertise, recalling how his journey in direction of representing Nigeria started throughout his secondary faculty years.
“You see, I was in secondary school when I started representing Nigeria. Secondary school,” he recalled.
The NSC Director General harassed that younger athletes must not ever enable their age, background or perceived limitations to discourage them from pursuing worldwide success.
“If somebody says to you it cannot be done, tell that person it is a lie,” he declared.
His remarks come as Nigeria prepares to take part in the historic Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the primary Olympic sporting occasion to be staged on African soil.
Olopade maintained that the competitors provides younger Nigerians a possibility to achieve worldwide publicity, develop confidence and construct the aggressive expertise required for future success.
For the aspiring Olympians, his message was unmistakable: Dakar 2026 might be the start of a journey in direction of LA 2028 and past.
