2026 Dakar Youth Olympics: A First for Africa

The 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics will mark a historic milestone as the first Youth Olympic Games to take place in Africa. Scheduled across three cities in Senegal—Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly—the Games will feature 35 sports and celebrate full gender equality across all events.

Notably, four sports will debut: Baseball5, Skateboarding, Surfing, and Wushu. These inclusions are aimed at promoting youth participation and highlighting African talent. The Games also bring exciting changes like the introduction of beach wrestling and the transformation of sport climbing into a bouldering-only discipline.

With 2,700 young athletes from around the globe, the Dakar 2026 Games aim to deliver a streamlined and impactful competition, reducing the number of events compared to previous editions. The focus is on sustainability, leveraging existing infrastructure to minimize costs.

IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell stated, “Dakar 2026 represents a significant milestone for the Youth Olympic Games, as we embrace a tailored approach that reflects the local context while maintaining the highest standards of elite youth competition.”

For detailed updates and information, visit the official https://olympics.com/fr/dakar-2026/en/dakar-2026-les-quatre-sports-font-leurs-debuts-aux-jeux-olympiques-de-la-jeunesse/

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