TheCable

The 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games kicks off on Wednesday in Glasgow, Scotland, with Nigeria participating in several events and veteran Segun Toriola leading the medal chase as captain of the team.

Toriola, who is making his fourth appearance at the games having made his first appearance at the 2002 Manchester Games, will be in charge of the 127-man contingent representing the country at the 11-day multi-sports tournament.

Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeye, made the announcement at the Games’ Village in Glasgow, saying Toriola was picked being the most experienced athlete in the team, coupled with dedication and patriotism to the country.

This edition will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland, with around 4,560 competing athletes across 17 different sports, although the country previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

Over the last 10 years, however, Glasgow and Scotland 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 country has competed at 11 Commonwealth Games, from 1950. Nigeria did not attend four Games, in 1962, 1978 (in protest of New Zealand’s policies), 1986 and 1998.

Nigeria has won at least one medal at every Games attended, including a record 37 in 1994.

The first medal in 1950 was won by Joshua Majekodunmi in the High Jump.