The United Arab Emirates National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC), through its Technical and Sports Affairs Department, has taken a key step in preparing for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in
Dakar, Senegal. A coordination meeting was held with representatives from various national sports federations to discuss participation guidelines and strategic planning for the event.
The meeting took place Thursday evening at the UAE NOC headquarters in Dubai, according to Emirates News Agency. Discussions focused on preparations for the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled from 31 October to 13 November 2026, which will host around 2,700 young athletes competing in 151 events across 25 sports.
Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Director of the Technical and Sports Affairs Department, led the session with a comprehensive presentation detailing the participation requirements. His overview covered qualification systems, eligibility criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Federations, registration timelines, age requirements, international licensing, and other key regulations.
Following the presentation, an open forum allowed federation representatives to ask questions, provide feedback, and propose recommendations to support athlete preparation. The meeting also highlighted areas requiring further coordination to ensure the UAE’s readiness for the Games.
Dakar 2026 will include a diverse range of sports such as swimming, athletics, judo, boxing, fencing, rugby, archery, sailing, taekwondo, wrestling, triathlon, beach volleyball, beach handball, and 3x3 basketball. Notably, this edition will be the first Youth Olympic Games ever held on the African continent. Photo by Ari Kyllönen, Wikimedia commons.
