The 2014 Commonwealth Games (officially the XX
Commonwealth Games) will be held in Glasgow, Scotland,
from 23 July to 3 August 2014.
It will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland
with 4,100 competing athletes, although the country
previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh. Over the last 10 years, however, Glasgow and
Scotland had staged World, Commonwealth, European, or
British events in all 17 sports proposed for the 2014
Commonwealth Games, including the World Badminton
Championships in 1997.

The official webite-
http://www.glasgow2014.com

Countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games: Nigeria
in search of 12th gold in Glasgow

TEAM Nigeria to the last Commonwealth Games in
New Delhi, India came back with a superlative result
which could be ranked the nation’s second best in
history.
The preparation for the Games was massive as athletes
went on training tours ahead of the competition which
aided the team’s performance.
For the second time in the Commonwealth Games,
Nigeria hit the 11 gold mark in India but could not match
the overall result obtained at Victoria ’94.
Nigeria finished with 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze
medals to place 13th on the final medals’ table.
Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo became the first athlete to
win gold medal for Nigeria in India as she triumphed in
the weightlifting women’s 48kg class.
Wrestler Efionayi Agbonavbare two days later followed
suit as he won in the men’s 84kg, as Obioma Agatha
Okoli joined the golden train with her victory in
weightlifting women’s 63kg, while another wrestler,
Ifeoma Christi Nwoye defeated home girl, Babita Kumari
in the women’s 51kg final.
The other gold medallists were Hadiza Zakari
(weightlifting, women’s 75kg); Sinvie Boltic (who
defeated Canada’s Korey Jarvis in the men’s 96-kg
final); Muizat Ajoke Odumosu (athletics, women’s 400m
hurdles); Tosin Oke (Athletics, men’s triple jump);
Esther Oyema (weightlifting, women’s open bench
press); Yakubu Adesokan (weightlifting, men’s open
bench press); and Kate Nwaka Oputa (table tennis
women’s wheelchair open singles (TT1–5).
The eight silver medallists were Onyeka Azike
(Weightlifting, women’s 53kg); Talaram Mamman
(wrestling, men’s 120kg); Blessing Oborududu
(wrestling, women’s 63kg); Chineme Obeta (athletics,
women’s 1500 metres T54); Maryam Usman
(weightlifting, women’s +75kg); Ebikewenimo Welson
(wrestling, men’s 55kg); Ganiyatu Joy Onaolapo
(Weightlifting, women’s open bench press); and Anthony
Ulonnam (weightlifting, men’s open bench press).
Wrestler Joseph Romeo settled for bronze medal in the
men’s 60kg alongside Odunayo Adekuroye (Women’s
48kg); Lovina Odohi Edward (women’s 55kg) and
Hellen Okus (women’s 72kg).
The other bronze medallists were Ayuba Abdullahi
(athletics, para-sport - men’s 100m para-sport T46); Tega
Tosin Richard (wrestling, women’s 59kg); Itohan
Ebireguesele (weightlifting, women’s 69kg); Ifeoma
Iheanacho (wrestling, women’s 67kg); Benedict Uloko
(weightlifting, men’s 94kg); Curtis Onaghinor
(weightlifting, men’s 105kg); Andrew Adibo Dick
(wrestling, men’s 84kg); Osamwenyobor Arasomwan
(weightlifting, women’s open bench press); Ikechukwu
Obichukwu (weightlifting, men’s open bench press); and
Obiora Faith Chinenye (weightlifting, women’s
wheelchair open singles (TT1–5).
However, as Nigeria looks forward to a better outing in
this year’s Commonwealth Games billed for July 23 to
August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland, the preparation for the
Games is nothing to write home about.
The proposed training tours by the sports federations
could not materialise before the athletes left Nigeria in
batches for the Games venue.
The inadequate preparation was occasioned by the late
release of funds leaving the sports federations such as
athletics and shooting to seek alternative in ensuring that
their training programmes were held as scheduled.
A total number of 127 athletes (65 male and 62 female)
will compete for Nigeria in seven sports athletics,
boxing, shooting, wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis
and para-sports.
The list is made up of 46 track and field athletes; 16
weightlifters; 15 shooters; 14 wrestlers; 11 boxers; 10
table tennis players, nine para-athletes and six para-
powerlifters.
Pundits still believe that the never-say-die spirit would
propel Nigerian athletes to rise up to the occasion in
Glasgow, but the coast in not clear as to whether Nigeria
can hit 12-gold mark in the Commonwealth Games for
the first time since nation’s debut in 1950 in Auckland.
Some of the athletes could not hide their feelings before
leaving for Scotland, as Aruna Quadri frowned on the
level of commitment the Federal Government gives to
football to the detriment of other sports.
The Portugal-based ping ponger is however, confident of
returning with a medal, saying “this is my third
appearance at the Games and I am determined to win a
medal”.
The table tennis team also has experienced players in
2002 and 2006 gold medallist, Segun Toriola and Funke
Oshonaike to propel the likes of Ganiyat Ogundele,
Rashidat Ogundele, Ojo Onaolapo, Edem Offiong and
Cecilia Otu-Akpan who are not new to the
Commonwealth Games.
Nigeria boasts of New Delhi 2010 defending champions
in Yakubu Adesokan, who is also a world record holder
in powerlifting, triple jump winner, Tosin Oke, Sinivie
Boltic, Blessing Oborududu, Esther Oyema who won the
London 2012 paralympics gold and a host of others who
can weather the storm in Glasgow.
The athletics team will also parade Alex Al-Ameen born
in Britain and Mark Jelks born in the United States aside
the brilliance of Blessing Okagbare who is set to grab
her first medal in the Commonwealth Games.
Perhaps, the Delta State-born amazon could be the first
Nigerian athlete to amass three gold medals in a single
edition of the Commonwealth Games after Mary Onyali
(two gold and one silver) and Mojisola Oluwa (two gold
and one bronze), given her devastating form.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/sports/item/11260-countdown-to-2014-commonwealth-games-nigeria-in-search-of-12th-gold-in-glasgow

You can watch the opening ceremony live on SS5 nigeria (channel 225) by 10pm