From 31 October to 13 November, Dakar hosts the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games — the first Olympic sporting event ever held on African soil.
Around 2,700 athletes born between 2009 and 2011 will compete. That is the age bracket where decisions get made — in sport and in school — that shape the next ten years.
The Youth Olympic Games get a fraction of the attention the senior Games do, yet they have launched some of the biggest names in world sport.
Here is what the Youth Olympic Games are, who is eligible, and why ages 15 to 17 matter for young athletes.
What the Youth Olympic Games are
The International Olympic Committee launched the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010 as an Olympic competition built exclusively for the youth age group. The summer edition is held every four years.
The Youth Olympic Games have so far been held in three cities: Singapore (2010), Nanjing (2014) and Buenos Aires (2018). Dakar was originally due to host in 2022, but the Games were postponed to 2026.
Unlike the senior Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games are not focused on competition alone. Education and culture activities form an important part of the programme, giving young athletes new experiences, introducing them to different cultures and teaching them about the Olympic values. The competitive character of the Games remains the same, though — athletes compete for Olympic medals.
Dakar 2026 at a glance
- 31 October – 13 November 2026, Senegal
- The first Olympic sporting event on the African continent
- Around 2,700 athletes and roughly 207 delegations
- 25 competition sports, plus an additional ten-sport programme
- Competition takes place at three locations in Senegal: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly
Who is eligible
The age window is narrow: athletes born between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011 are eligible. Individual sports apply their own, sometimes tighter, rules, because development curves differ from discipline to discipline.
The number of places at the Youth Olympic Games is limited, and athletes take part according to specific criteria and quotas. As a result, many talented young athletes do not get the chance to compete, which takes nothing away from their quality or their potential.
Why ages 15 to 17 matter for young athletes
The years between 15 and 17 are an important stage in a young athlete's development. This is the age when physical conditioning, technique and understanding of the game all improve significantly, while training and competition become increasingly demanding.
At the same time, young athletes begin to think more seriously about their sporting future. The standard rises, the competition gets stronger, and results start to carry more weight. For many, these are the years that lay the foundations for the move from junior to senior sport.
The Youth Olympic Games give the best young athletes a chance to compete internationally, gain valuable experience and get a first sense of what elite sport demands.
How to follow the Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar run from 31 October to 13 November 2026. The schedule, results and latest news are published on the official Olympic Games website.
The Youth Olympic Games are not only a chance to win medals, but also to gain international experience, meet other athletes and help young talent develop. For many of those taking part it is an important step on the way to senior competition and the rest of their sporting career.
The Youth Olympic Games show how important it is to give young athletes the chance to develop their talent. Results at this age are not a final measure of their ability, only one stage on the path of their sporting development.
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