Some foreign-based athletes, who participated in the 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos, have praised Delta State for sponsoring them to the event.
  
The athletes spoke, just as the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and the Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Solomon Ogba, commended the athletes and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for what they termed “impressive” 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials.
  
The event, which started on Sunday at the YABATECH Sports Complex, Lagos, ended yesterday.
The Delta State government demonstrated its love for sports in Nigeria by sponsoring about 17 United States-based athletes for the national trials, but only 15 of them made the trip to Lagos.

The athletes arrived in Lagos on Saturday after an initial hiccup occasioned by thunderstorms, which disrupted their flight.
  
The U.S.-based athletes, who competed with Team Delta’s vests, were Nyenuchi Okemgbo (400m hurdles), Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (shot put), Oyesade Olatoye (Hammer women and shot put women), Dolapo Divine Oladipo (shot put women and discus Women), Obiageri Amaechi (discus Women), Jami Schlueter (decathlon and pole vault), Favour Ashe (100m), Johnson Tyler (400m) and Adaobi Orjiugo Tabugbo (100 hurdles women).
  
The athletes were accompanied to Lagos by U.S.-based Coach Gabriel Opuana, who is said to have pitched his tent with Team Delta.
  
Some of the athletes, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday, expressed gratitude to the Delta State government for sponsoring them to Lagos.
  
Johnson Tyler, who won the men’s 400m final in 45.75 seconds, said: “I am really thankful to Nigerians for their support, particularly the Delta State Government for sponsoring our trip from the United States. I enjoyed myself, and I am looking forward to another visit to Nigeria in the near future.
  
Chidi Okezie, who said that it would have been difficult for him to make the trip if Delta State didn’t come to their rescue, commended the state for “always showing up for athletes.”
  
Also speaking in the same vein, Adaobi, who won the women’s 400m hurdles, said she had almost given up hope of being at the trials until she was informed of the Delta State gesture. “I want to tell the Delta State government that we are grateful for what it has been doing for us,” she said.
  
Explaining Delta State’s decision to assist the athletes, the Director-General of Delta Sports Commission, Emuobo Egalase, told The Guardian during yesterday’s final that “if not for the presence of these foreign-based athletes, this event would have lost its glamour. 
  
“I thank our state government for deeming it fit to sponsor 15 U.S.-based athletes for this event. Seventeen of them were actually sponsored by Delta State, but 15 showed up here. It is commendable.”