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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is evolving its approach to the sports programme of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in order to fit it better into the local context.
The YOG Dakar 2026 will be the first to benefit from this. The decision to amend the sports programme for Dakar 2026 was taken by the IOC Executive Board (EB) last week, which approved the new sports programme proposed by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission.
This follows the debrief of the Winter YOG Gangwon 2024, where the IOC examined the evolution of the YOG and emphasised the need to deliver Games that totally fit the local and regional context.
This revised process will see a tailored sports competition programme designed for each edition of the YOG, created in close collaboration with the Organising Committee (YOGOC) and the International Federations (IFs), based on the position taken by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) General Assembly earlier this year, to ensure the YOG retain their position as an elite multisport competition and sport engagement platform.
“Adopting a tailored approach to the sports programme for the Youth Olympic Games allows us to ensure that each edition is uniquely aligned with the host context and needs,” said Kirsty Coventry, IOC Member and Chair of the Coordination Commission for the YOG Dakar 2026.”
New sports programme at Dakar 2026
In light of the above, the IOC has worked closely with the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee to determine the sports competition programme and sport engagement programme for Dakar 2026.
An updated set of sports principles has been developed, with the aim of providing a sustainable and credible model for Dakar 2026:
The sports principles limit each sport to one discipline, ensure credible elite youth competitions, exclude mixed-National Olympic Committee (NOC) medal events, propose innovative formats, and maximise connections with Senegal and Africa.
The athlete quota reduces the overall athlete numbers, while ensuring gender equality.
The venue and operational strategy maximise the use of existing venues, avoid significant refurbishments except for essential needs, promote sharing of venues and Fields of Play (FOPs), and minimise road and beach events to reduce complexity and city impact.
The NOC representation and qualification principles will be ensured via a pathway for all NOCs to the YOG Dakar 2026, with a strong focus on African NOCs and athletes, and considering continental representation across all sports.
The maximum age for participants will be 17 at the time of the Games, with the respective age requirements aligned with IF and elite athlete pathways where feasible.
Based on the newly defined principles, it was decided to maintain the official involvement of all 35 IFs in Dakar 2026, with 25 sports featuring on the competition programme and 10 to be part of the engagement programme. Sports on the engagement programme will be equally promoted as being part of the YOG Dakar 2026.
“As we present the new sports programme for Dakar 2026, our goal is to create an engaging and innovative experience that connects with young people, particularly within Senegal and Africa,” said IOC Member Karl Stoss, Chair of the Olympic Programme Commission. — IOC.com
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