Game on Field

Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 History

Upcoming

Dakar, Senegal • 31 Oct 2026 — 13 Nov 2026

Overview

The Youth Olympic Games are the International Olympic Committee's multi-sport event for athletes aged 15 to 18. The idea was first put forward in 1998 by the Austrian Johann Rosenzopf, and IOC members approved a youth version of the Games on 6 July 2007. The first Summer edition was held in Singapore in August 2010, followed by Nanjing in 2014 and Buenos Aires in 2018. Winter editions have been held in Innsbruck, Lillehammer, Lausanne and Gangwon.

The Games are smaller than the senior Olympics on purpose: events stay in one host city, no new sports venues are meant to be built, and many team sports are played in smaller formats such as 3x3 basketball, futsal, beach handball and Baseball5. Alongside the competition, every edition runs a Culture and Education Programme so that athletes also learn and meet people from other countries.

Dakar 2026 is the fourth Summer edition. It was first planned for 2022 and moved to 2026, and it takes the Games to Africa for the first time. Twenty-five sports are on the programme, and it is the first Summer edition with an equal number of events for boys and girls. The Games run from 31 October to 13 November 2026, with Baseball5 starting a day earlier, on 30 October.

Facts

  • Athletes must be 15 to 18 years old, with age counted on 31 December of the year of the Games.
  • Universality places are kept open so that every National Olympic Committee can send at least four athletes.
  • Each of the first three Summer editions drew more than 200 participating nations.
  • Dakar 2026 is the first Summer Youth Olympics with an equal number of events for boys and girls.
  • The Dakar Games were originally scheduled for 2022 and were moved to 2026.
  • Some events use mixed teams, with boys and girls, and sometimes athletes from different countries, competing together.

Milestones

  1. 1998

    The idea of a youth Games

    Austrian industrial manager Johann Rosenzopf proposes an Olympic-style event for young athletes.

  2. 2007

    IOC approves the Youth Olympic Games

    On 6 July 2007, at its session in Guatemala City, the IOC approves the creation of a youth version of the Olympic Games.

  3. 2010

    First Summer edition in Singapore

    The inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games are held from 14 to 26 August with 204 participating nations.

  4. 2014

    Nanjing hosts the second Summer edition

    The Games return in August 2014 with several sports shown for the first time, including skateboarding, sport climbing, inline speed skating and wushu.

  5. 2018

    Buenos Aires introduces new sports

    Beach handball, breaking, futsal, karate, roller speed skating and sport climbing join the programme.

  6. 2026

    Dakar brings the Games to Africa

    The fourth Summer edition is held in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 October to 13 November 2026.

Editions

ED.Host
YearAthletes

All-Time Medal Leaders

CHNChinaLeads the all-time Youth Olympic Games medal table with 105 gold medals across Summer and Winter editions, before Dakar 2026.
RUSRussiaSecond on golds with 96 and first on total medals with 228 across Summer and Winter editions, before Dakar 2026.
JPNJapanThird on the all-time table with 46 golds and 130 medals in total, before Dakar 2026.