Sports

Search For New Commonwealth Games Host Under Way

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

The Commonwealth Games Federation’s “main focus” is on finding a new host for the 2026 Games after settling its disputes with the Victorian government.

The Australian state withdrew as hosts last month, citing rising costs, and last week agreed to pay the CGF £190m.

The government of Alberta, the only confirmed potential bidder left for 2030, then halted its bid.

While the CGF’s search for a new host is now underway, the process is “still very much in the early stages”.

A CGF spokesperson said: “Now we have reached a settlement with the Victorian government, our main focus is on finding a solution for 2026 that is in the best interests of athletes and the wider Commonwealth sport movement.

“We have been particularly inspired by the huge support from around the world and the enthusiasm for the Games that has been expressed over the last few weeks and are working to turn that interest into a clear plan.”

Victoria planned to host a multi-hub regional event over 12 days but the cost had surpassed estimates by about 5bn Australian dollars (£2.6bn).

State premier Daniel Andrews said he was not prepared to spend a total of up to 7bn Australian dollars (£3.6bn) on the event.

A CGF statement added: “The parties also agreed that the multi-hub regional model was more expensive to host than the traditional models.”

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Sports

NLO’s Shola Ogunowo Earns Praise for Driving Grassroots Football and Exemplifying Integrity

Published

3 hours ago

June 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian football community has lauded Mr. Shola Ogunowo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), for his unwavering commitment to integrity and the development of grassroots football, earning him widespread respect and admiration across the sporting landscape.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by Okechukwu Okebugwu, Mr. Ogunowo was praised as a transformative leader who has redefined the ethics and standards of football administration at the grassroots level. According to the release, Ogunowo has emerged as a “leading figure in the fight against match-fixing, bribery, and all forms of corruption” that have plagued the lower tiers of Nigerian football for decades.

Through consistent enforcement of transparency, fairness, and accountability, Mr. Ogunowo is steering the NLO toward becoming a credible platform where talent can be discovered and nurtured based on merit, rather than manipulation or favoritism.

“In an environment where shortcuts and compromises are all too common, Shola Ogunowo has remained a pillar of integrity,” Okebugwu stated. “He is restoring credibility to grassroots football by ensuring that fair play, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable.”

Since taking over as COO, Ogunowo has spearheaded a number of structural reforms aimed at instilling discipline and operational excellence among participating clubs. These include stricter licensing requirements, performance audits, and compliance monitoring to ensure clubs uphold the league’s code of conduct. His administration has also emphasized youth development, with a renewed focus on coaching education and player welfare.

The result is a reinvigorated Nationwide League One that is beginning to attract renewed attention from fans, corporate sponsors, and local communities. Observers say Ogunowo’s leadership is helping reshape perceptions of grassroots football—not just as a stepping stone to the elite leagues, but as a vital foundation for the future of Nigerian football.

“His leadership is not only impacting the pitch—it’s rebuilding trust, creating real value, and setting a good standard for sports administration in Nigeria,” Okebugwu concluded.

As the NLO season progresses, many stakeholders believe that with figures like Shola Ogunowo at the helm, the future of grassroots football in Nigeria is not only secure, but promising.

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