Future Olympian Athletics Classic Rescheduled to Late 2026 for Nationwide Reach
Ijirigho Says Classic Will Unlock Nigeria’s Global Athletics Potential
The Future Olympian Athletics Classic, originally scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, has been rescheduled to the last quarter of the year. The adjustment is aimed at transforming the competition into a truly national event that will involve all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Dr. Bruce Ijirigho, former Team Nigeria captain at the Montreal ’76 Olympic Games and Project Lead of the initiative, explained that the postponement will allow the Organising Committee to design a comprehensive national plan.
This plan will ensure that young talents across the country are identified early and nurtured to reach world-class standards.
The competition is being organised by the Youth Sports Renaissance Foundation (YSRF), a non-profit founded by Ijirigho alongside Godwin Obasogie and Charlton Ehizuelen.
Their mission is to revive athletics in Nigerian secondary schools by reintroducing the culture that once produced champions through early discovery, proper coaching, and academic support.
Ijirigho emphasized that the Classics are not about reinventing the wheel but about restoring proven methods that helped his generation succeed. He noted that the lack of early opportunities and modern, age-appropriate coaching has long hindered sports development in Nigeria and across Africa.
The event will feature international coaching clinics to equip Games masters and local coaches with advanced techniques, ensuring that discovered talents are properly nurtured. By focusing strictly on high school students, the programme aims to build a pipeline of athletes who can become Olympians and global champions in their late teens and early twenties.
According to Ijirigho, expanding the competition to all six regions is crucial: ‘Talents abound in every corner of Nigeria. Whether sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, or long-distance runners, we want every student to have the chance to be discovered.’
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential to dominate global athletics once the right developmental structures are in place: “The Future Olympian Athletics Classic will set the foundation for our youth and for Nigeria to take its rightful place in world athletics.”
