Nigeria is currently taking part at the maiden Youth Olympic Games (YOG), being hosted by Singapore, Aug 14 – Aug 26, 2010.

The country is being represented by 13 athletes drawn from six sports codes —Athletics, Boxing, Badminton, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Table Tennis.

The contingent led by the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr Habu Ahmed Gumel, an IOC member, had since departed the country in two batches on Aug. 9 and Aug 10 via the Muritala Mohammed Airport.

The idea of the Youth Olympic Games was borne out of the need to develop the youths, who are now the focal point international sports Movement.

They are drawn from age brackets in order to develop them, not only to excel in sports, but also to develop spiritually, culturally and educationally.  No fewer than 5,600 athletes from 205 Olympic committees would take part in the Games.

The YOG is a follow up to the 1st African Youth Games, which took place in Casablanca, Morocco, July 13 – July 18.
The country was at the Africa Youth Games and was placed 10 in the overall medals placing of the 41 countries that took part at the event.

With the modest but impressive placing by the country, there are high hopes that the contingent to the Games would perform well, if only to compensate for the poor showings that appear to have dogged the country particularly from the poor.

performance of the national team the last FIFA World Cup in South Africa.The team has since arrived in Singapore at the Games Village, located at the lush greens of the Nanyang Technological University Campus, Singapore.  Asusual, the Games Village would provide the athletes and officials with the rightcomfort and services to enable them to perform..

The YOG would also feature ‘Friendship Camp’, which is a special part of the YOG with the goal of promoting Olympic values among participants and providing them with a unique experience and opportunity of striking life_long friendships.

The friendship camp occupies a special place in the history of the YOG.  Through the camp, participants will have the opportunity to participate in some of the culture and education programme activities in built into YOG.

The Sectary_General of NOC, Mr Olabanji Oladapo with the complement of NOC secretaries were in Singapore to provide the ground logistics to ensure smooth movement into the village as well as other facilities to participate in the Games.