Athletics, six other sports confirmed for 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

Wave-making Nigerian track and field athletes have been handed another near-global opportunity to confirm Nigeria’s growing profile after athletics was confirmed as one of the seven sports to be competed for next year at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

Two new sports, Triathlon and Fast5 netball are also set to be competed in for the first time at the Games, with the others sports confirmed as aquatics, cycling, rugby sevens and beach volleyball.

Scheduled to be held from August 4 to 11, athletes aged between 14 and 18 from across the Commonwealth countries including Bermuda, will compete in two clusters, one in Couva, Trinidad, and the other Tobago.

This is to make sure the diverse perspective of the twin island country is showcased to the Commonwealth nations.

“We are delighted to confirm the Sport Programme for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, featuring much-anticipated debuts in the Youth Games for the dynamic and innovative FAST5 Netball and Triathlon,“ said, Dame Louise Martin, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

“It promises to be a thrilling and competitive Games and exceptional showcasing of Caribbean and Commonwealth Sport.

“An invaluable springboard for the stars and leaders of tomorrow, the Games will be a truly special and inspiring experience for young athletes from across the Commonwealth.”

Trinidad and Tobago were supposed to host the Games in 2021 but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in the Bahamas in 2017.

Nigeria has won a total of six gold medals at the Games and holds the boys and girls
(1:28.35) and girls (1:41.60) Games record.

Nigeria also made it 1 and 2 in the girls 100m through Abolaji Omotayo Oluwaseun (11.59) and Etim Aniekeme Alphonsus (11.64).