Olopade pledges N6m for Athletic Heat 10th anniversary meet

Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has pledged N6 million for the 10th anniversary edition of the Athletic Heat Meet, scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos. The funds will be used to reward winners in throwing events, with N4 million earmarked for the top eight events, and an additional N2 million allocated to the meet's logistics.

Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma expressed gratitude for the NSC's support and commitment to sports development, stating that it is crucial for raising competition standards and providing opportunities for young talents. Over 850 athletes, including Nigerian internationals Miracle Ezechukwu, Samson Nathaniel, and Adams Samuel Kure, are expected to participate in the meet, which will feature established stars, emerging talents, and grassroots competitors.

Ezechukwu, a teenage sprinter, is expected to compete in the women's 100m, having won three gold medals at the African U-18 and U-20 Championships and setting personal bests in the 100m and 200m this year. Nathaniel, a quarter-miler, has represented Nigeria at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships and is expected to compete in the men's 400m.

Kure will headline the field events in the javelin, having won bronze at the Islamic Solidarity Games with a throw of 76.01 meters.