Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Young Moroccan Athletes, Future Torchbearers of National Olympism (Nawal El Moutawakel)

Diamniadio (40 km from Dakar) – The young Moroccan athletes currently participating in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are destined to become the future torchbearers of national Olympism at upcoming international competitions, stated Nawal El Moutawakel, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The former Moroccan Olympic champion highlighted the participation of the Moroccan delegation, which includes young athletes, both girls and boys, aged 14 to 18, competing in several disciplines.

Morocco is participating in this fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games with a delegation of 39 athletes competing in 17 sports. Moroccan athletes are competing in athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, breakdancing, road cycling, fencing, futsal, artistic gymnastics, judo, beach wrestling, swimming, skateboarding, equestrian sports, taekwondo, triathlon, sailing, and wushu-taolu.

According to the IOC Vice-President, these young athletes are destined to gradually take over from their elders and uphold Olympic values ​​at upcoming major sporting events, notably the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and beyond.

The former 400-meter hurdles specialist noted that the young Moroccans benefit from excellent training conditions and high-level technical and administrative support, while expressing her hope that these athletes will proudly represent their country and achieve success in this Olympic competition.

Ms. El Moutawakil emphasized the importance of education as a fundamental pillar of youth development, stressing the crucial need to transmit the principles and values ​​of the Olympic movement to younger generations.

As a member of the International Olympic Committee, Ms. El Moutawakil expressed her pride in the efforts and progress made in organizing these Olympic Games, the first to be held in Africa.

In this regard, she recalled that this project was championed by Thomas Bach, the former IOC President, whose dream was to one day see the Olympic Games held in Africa. She highlighted the preparations and the numerous obstacles that delayed this edition, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian War.

The Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games also praised the opening ceremony of these Games, which are being attended by countries from all corners of the world.

Addressing the future of this event, the iconic figure of Moroccan and international athletics recalled previous editions held in Singapore in 2010, Nanjing in 2014, and Buenos Aires in 2018, noting that the IOC, under the presidency of Kirsty Coventry, has begun discussions regarding the future of these Games.

The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, which run until November 13, bring together some 2,700 young athletes from approximately 153 countries, competing in 25 sports.