NSC: Team Nigeria to Camp in Aberdeen Ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Games
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that Team Nigeria will spend four weeks in camp at Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Speaking to The Guardian Nigeria from Scotland, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade explained that the decision was taken to ensure optimal performance and avoid logistical challenges that have affected past tournaments.
‘We decided to get a camp closer to the Games venue to avoid the logistics of flying athletes from different locations two days before the opening ceremony. We learnt these lessons when Team Nigeria participated at the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia.
‘Getting a camp closer to the city, where the competition will take place, will give room for proper coordination. It will also give us positive results,’ Olopade told The Guardian Nigeria.
Olopade further noted that his trip to Scotland was part of early planning to secure convenient accommodation in Aberdeen, aimed at maximizing athlete performance and minimizing travel stress.
He emphasized that the NSC is working in line with recommendations from the Elite Podium Board to ensure Nigeria’s athletes are fully prepared.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, will be a compact 10-sport event. The NSC believes that the Aberdeen camp will provide Team Nigeria with the focused environment needed to deliver strong results.
Aberdeen is about 194 km (121 miles) from Glasgow in a straight line, but the driving distance is roughly 234–235 km (146 miles), which takes around 2 hours 30 minutes by car. By train, the journey averages about 2 hours 35 minutes.
