Senegal to field record 139 athletes for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
via SeneNews2 min read
Senegal is preparing to host the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games YOG with a record delegation of 139 athletes, surpassing China's 2014 record of 120. With 100 days until the opening ceremony, Senegal will present its largest-ever Olympic delegation, competing in 25 disciplines. Avelino Gomez Monteiro, president of the technical commission of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee CNOSS, highlighted the exceptional nature of this number, stating that no other host country has achieved it. The YOG Dakar 2026, running from October 31 to November 13 under the slogan "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates," marks a historic first for the African continent. The event will gather 2,700 young athletes globally across 35 sports, held at eight venues in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, supported by 6,000 volunteers. The CNOSS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has implemented an extensive preparation program. Since January 2025, periodic training camps have been organized during school holidays for pre-selected young talents. Starting in August, 220 athletes will enter a 90-day closed camp before the final selection of the 139 representatives. Thirteen disciplines will also benefit from a 65-day preparation camp in China, including sparring sessions with Chinese athletes. Experts from INSEPS Paris have also assisted Senegalese technicians in talent detection. Monteiro expressed confidence in Senegal's ambitions, noting that the participants' age can reduce sk
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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