No fewer than 20 schools are set to participate in the third edition of the Athletics School Games (TASG), a grassroots athletics competition for school children scheduled to be held in Lagos.

The 2026 edition of the competition will take place from March 20 to March 21 at the sports complex of Yaba College of Technology.

Seun Akinbohun, President of TASG, said in a statement on Wednesday that the competition, designed for children aged between four and 16, will feature participating schools competing in sprint races, middle-distance races and field events.

Akinbohun said the initiative, which began in 2024 and is registered with World Athletics, had continued to attract increasing participation from schools.

He noted that the third edition would introduce an expanded format aimed at improving athlete development and the overall competition structure.

“For the first time, primary school events will be separated from secondary school contests to allow for more races, better scheduling and improved recovery time for young athletes.

“Technical officiating, timing systems and event coordination have also been upgraded to meet higher standards,” he said.

Akinbohun said the games would provide a platform for talent discovery and exposure for young athletes while also promoting sportsmanship and character development among participating schools.

According to him, the Kashopefoluwa Sportsmanship Award will be presented to athletes and schools that demonstrate integrity, discipline and respect during the competition.

He, however, noted that the event had faced challenges, particularly in funding and sponsorship, with much of the competition being self-financed.

He added that infrastructure limitations also remained a concern, as equipment and venues were often independently sourced.

Akinbohun said the project had continued to grow, with each edition recording improvements in organisation and participation from schools in spite of the challenges.

“The unique part of the 2026 edition includes the introduction of new events such as the 400m hurdles in the senior secondary category, improved officiating and increased participation from schools.

“The games remain strictly schools-based, with clubs and academies excluded in order to strengthen inter-school sports programmes,” he added.

US President Donald Trump has said Iran are “welcome” to take part in this summer’s World Cup despite the countries being at war, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Posting on Instagram, Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the tournament, which is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and gets under way on 11 June.

Infantino said he and Trump “spoke about the current situation in Iran”.

Iran are scheduled to play three matches in the US, but their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country this month, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said.

“We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the president of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Trump last week told Politico, external “I really don’t care” if Iran play in the World Cup.

Following the outbreak of military action, Iran football federation president Mehdi Taj has been quoted as saying: “What is certain is that after these attacks, it’s hard to look at the World Cup with hope.”

Australia has granted six humanitarian visas to members of Iran’s women’s team over concerns about their safety.

The remaining Iran players left Australia on Tuesday after the team’s elimination from the AFC Asian Cup.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said seven people were granted asylum, but one woman later changed her mind and opted to return home.

Two-time Olympic badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, has advised beginners and aspiring players to remain focused and committed in order to excel in the sport.

Opeyori, who is based in the United States, said in a telephone interview on Wednesday that discipline and consistency were crucial to success in badminton.

He said players must continually train and understand the pattern of their training in order to improve.

“Both discipline and consistency are very important in badminton.

“Players must keep showing up and also recognise the pattern of their training, otherwise it will be difficult to improve.

“They should understand why they are training and be able to identify what they are doing right or wrong.

“They should also realise that every shot is important in badminton. This is how beginners can develop themselves and carve a niche in the sport.

“They must also possess the right mindset and attitude toward the game in order to excel,” he said.

Opeyori competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

He served as Nigeria’s team captain and also the country’s flag bearer during the parade of nations at the Paris Olympics.

The badminton star is also a two-time gold medallist at the African Games and has won the men’s singles title at the African Badminton Championships.

He advised beginners to avoid learning complex shots at the early stage of their development.

“Firstly, they should solidify their foundation by understanding basic techniques such as footwork, how to hit a clear and how to execute a normal drop shot.

“They should not start with learning how to smash because it involves complex techniques that could damage their foundation and lead to poor skills.

“Beginners should avoid rushing into advanced techniques. Learning badminton requires patience because it is not a sport that can be mastered hurriedly,” he said.

Opeyori is the most decorated African male badminton player.

The Olympian added that the major challenge faced by Nigerian athletes, both at home and abroad, remained funding and expenses.

“Growing up in Nigeria requires a lot of survival skills.

“Sports require resources and the challenges have always been equipment, infrastructure and manpower, such as the availability of coaches and exposure.

“I have been able to overcome these challenges by focusing on what I can control.

“I studied business management and administration and I apply the knowledge from my studies to my sporting career and other activities,” he said.

According to him, he did not initially set a target when he started playing badminton.

“When I started badminton, I did not have a specific target but I already understood what the sport was about; it was introduced to me unexpectedly and there was no plan.

“It happened by coincidence and it turned out to be an interesting development. I initially applied to become a gymnast but I was not patient enough to pursue it to the end,” Opeyori said.

He said that before the maiden International Lagos Classic in 2014, he set a personal target that no foreign player would defeat him on home soil, adding that he was happy to have achieved the goal.

The gold medallist at the 2025 African Badminton Championships said he remained active in badminton and was still open to representing Nigeria.

“I am still competing in badminton tournaments here in the U.S. and it provides a good environment for the sport because it pushes me to intensify my training more than when I was in Nigeria.

“There are good facilities here for training. I have access to training kits and partners.

“I also have an upcoming tournament in May which is bigger than most tournaments in Africa. It is a Super 300 badminton competition,” he said.

The Super 300 tournaments are part of the BWF World Tour sponsored by Badminton World Federation, featuring 11 events.