Day

Abuja, June 25, 2025 (CrestNewsOnline) The 2025 edition of the International Olympic Day will be celebrated in several states across Nigeria on Saturday.

Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), on Wednesday listed the states which have so far confirmed their plans to participate in this special day.

“The states registered to organise this year’s Olympic Day celebration are: Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Taraba, Enugu, Delta, Kwara, FCT, Anambra, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Kogi, Gombe, Osun, Imo and Lagos which is currently housing the Secretariat of the NOC,” he said.

The NOC spokesman said the events of the day would feature a variety of demonstration sports and activities depending on individual and group interests.

“These activities will include jogging and walking to promote calorie burning, muscle toning, overall health and stress reduction.”

Nezianya noted that Olympic Day celebrations in Nigeria had in the past featured either a 10-kilometre race or a five-kilometre race, which some considered restrictive.

“However, following popular requests from advocates of the Olympic Movement, the celebration has now been expanded to include a wider range of sports to appeal to a broader participation.

Speaking also, Austin Odigie, the Day’s Coordinating Officer for the NOC Sport for All Commission, which oversees the international day, said: “The event has evolved into a mass movement aimed at promoting fitness for all.

“Already, Dr Abdul Ibrahim, Chairman of the Sport for All Commission, has urged the state governments of the Sports Councils and Commissions in the listed statesto actively participate in this mass-oriented fitness programme.

“He urged those unable to participate this year to in future use this annual event as an opportunity to mobilise the populace and encourage engagement in sports for better fitness.”

Habu Gumel, the President of NOC, will flag off the event in Abuja, where the Day would be holding after a long break.

(www.crestnewsonline.ng)