Ernest Osogbue.
The National Sports Commission NSC, has announced the conclusion of plans to broadcast live events of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, to millions of Nigerians. The broadcast, which would be free-to-air, is in collaboration with What Network, and would give Nigerians access to watch their athletes without exorbitant charges.
According to Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the NSC, the broadcast initiative was secured via a presentation by the leadership of the NSC, to President Tinubu, on the viability of such a venture, and the ripple effect on the psyche of Nigerians in general, and upcoming athletes in particular. According to Olopade, the leadership of the commission, came to the realization that the onus rested on them to bring the performances of Nigerian athletes into the homes of Nigerians, without their having to steal or rob a bank, to pay the cutthroat prices of foreign television subscriptions.
In recent years, Nigerians have had to pay exorbitant costs, and subscribe to foreign television networks, in order to watch their athletes perform on the international stage. Recently, Nigerians were embarrassed to watch an international football match between Nigeria and South Africa, on a South African television channel. It was the height of insults, as the commentators exposed their lack of depth and knowledge of Nigerian football history. They equally took advantage of the situation to throw subtle shade at Nigerian players, thereby demoralizing Nigerian viewers. This rendered the entire broadcast uninteresting from a Nigerian standpoint. That is the more reason why the NSC initiative must be appreciated, because it has indeed been challenging to sports lovers that Nigerian television stations are so poor, that they lack the financial muscle to bid for the rights to Nigerian contents on the global stage.
The NSC announcement, is therefore, a welcome development. Finally, Nigerians can watch their athletes perform live at the Commonwealth Games, without having to pay through their nose, or listen to foreign commentators bastardise Nigerian names or mock their athletes. According to Olopade, the Nigerian Television Authority NTA, and Television Continental TVC, are the primary partners, but other local stations could be involved, before the broadcast arrangements are finalized.
The NSC DG, also used the occasion, to announce a well laid out reward system for Nigerian athletes at the Glasgow Games. He assured Nigerians that the welfare of athletes remains a cardinal objective of the commission. He therefore, maintained, that the Nigerian contingent to the Games, was ready to post a historic performance, as everything has been put in place to make the athletes and their minders comfortable.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Nigeria finished with a total of 35 medals; 12 gold, 9 silver, and 14 bronze, to finish 7th on the overall medals table. Athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling, were the niche for that successful outing. From all indications, those three categories remain very potent for team Nigeria, with Olopade gleefully saying he does not expect to be disappointed by his weightlifters and as well the other athletes.
