Go for Gold, Olopade Charges Team Nigeria as First Batch Departs Aberdeen for Glasgow
The first batch of Team Nigeria athletes and officials departed their training camp in Aberdeen for Glasgow on Tuesday ahead of the 23rd Commonwealth Games, with Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, delivering a stirring message urging the contingent to pursue gold medals and uphold the nation’s image.
In an emotional video that has since gone viral, Olopade addressed the athletes as they boarded the bus for Glasgow, repeatedly charging them to ‘Go for gold.’ He reminded the athletes that the country had invested heavily in their preparations and expected them to justify that confidence with outstanding performances.
“Go for gold. To whom much is given, much is expected,” Olopade told the athletes that Nigeria has invested so much in them, especially in their preparations.
‘It is now your responsibility to make the country proud.”
Team Nigeria has spent the last three weeks in a high-performance training camp in Aberdeen, fine-tuning preparations for the Games.
The NSC has set an ambitious target of winning at least 20 gold medals, a feat that would represent Nigeria’s best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games since making its debut at the inaugural edition in 1950.
The opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place on Friday, with Nigerian athletes and officials expected to join the colourful parade of nations.
A second batch of Team Nigeria athletes and officials is scheduled to arrive at the Games Village on Friday, July 24, to reinforce the contingent already on ground.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 23 to August 2, bringing together about 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth Games Associations to compete for 215 gold medals across 11 sports.
