The idea had been in the air for a long time, and it has become reality: a refugee Olympic team will compete at the 2026 Youth Games in Dakar, Senegal. The IOC Executive Board decided it this week in Lausanne, at least in principle. As for the details – number of athletes, composition of the team, selection process – we will have to wait and see. They will be announced at a later date and submitted to the Executive Board for approval. The only clue: the delegation will be focused on young athletes living in Africa. The Dakar 2026 YOG will be the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent. They will also be the first edition of the Youth Games to feature a team of refugees since the event was created in Singapore in 2010.
