Youth Olympics face uncertain future despite historic African success
The future of the Youth Olympic Games remains uncertain as Senegal concludes Africa’s first Olympic sporting event, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reviewing whether the competition is fulfilling its purpose.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said on Thursday that the organization is still assessing the event after suspending the selection of a host for the 2030 Summer Youth Games earlier this year. She gave no timetable for a decision.
Coventry, a former Zimbabwean Olympic swimming champion, praised Senegal’s hosting, describing the event as “a magnificent journey” and saying they demonstrated Africa’s ability to organize major sporting events.
“I think we’ve proven by these games that there’s nothing lacking,” she said at a press conference. She noted, however, that only around 15% of participants go on to compete in the Olympics, calling the proportion “quite small.”
“It’s not to say that the impact isn’t enormous, because we can see it and we can feel it,” Coventry said. The IOC must nevertheless assess the event’s contribution to the wider Olympic movement, she added.
The IOC Executive Board paused the 2030 host election process on May 7 while it reassesses the competition’s core objectives. Coventry said findings from Dakar would feed into that assessment, which includes examining how best to engage youth through the Olympic movement.
Consultations with national Olympic committees and international sports federations failed to establish a clear shared vision for the event, Inside the Games reported when the pause was announced.
Dakar 2026 opened on October 31 and is scheduled to conclude on November 13. Around 2,650 athletes from 204 national Olympic committees, along with the first Youth Refugee Olympic Team, have taken part in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
Japan’s Mana Ishikawa, 17, became the first athlete to win four individual golds at a single Youth Olympics. China swept the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics team titles, while New Zealand’s Ariel Muchirahondo claimed the 100 and 200 meter backstroke crowns.
Senegal’s Elisabeth Diatta secured the host nation’s first gold at an Olympic event in women’s 55 kg beach wrestling. Compatriot Maguette Diop also won wrestling gold, while Senegal’s men defeated Lithuania to take the 3x3 basketball title.
Russia competed under its national flag and anthem, with 13 athletes registered across nine sports. Its gold medalists included Ulyana Belykh, 15, who defeated Egypt’s Sara Amr Hossny 15-8 in the women’s individual foil final.
Senegal was awarded the Games in 2018 and initially planned to stage them in 2022. The coronavirus pandemic forced a four-year postponement, making Dakar the first Summer Youth Olympics since Buenos Aires in 2018.
Created under former IOC President Jacques Rogge, the Summer Youth Olympics debuted in Singapore in 2010, followed by the inaugural winter edition in Innsbruck in 2012. Italy is scheduled to host the next Winter Youth Olympics in 2028.
