Over 200 NOCs come together for Dakar 2026 Chefs de Mission Seminar
Preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) advanced this month, as more than 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) gathered for the Chefs de Mission Seminar in Dakar to support preparations for their athletes competing at the YOG.
Key facts
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Over 200 NOCs participated in the Dakar 2026 Chefs de Mission Seminar, including 173 on site, with additional delegations joining remotely.
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The two-day seminar, held on 9 and 10 April, combined plenary sessions and interactive working sessions covering all key operational areas.
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The programme also included venue and Youth Olympic Village visits in Dakar and Diamniadio.
Over two days, NOCs received in-depth updates through presentations and interactive working sessions on key operational areas, including logistics, accommodation, sport, medical services, and food and beverage. The programme also included visits to competition venues in Dakar and Diamniadio and to the Youth Olympic Village, giving delegations a clear preview of the environment where their athletes will compete and stay.
The seminar, hosted by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and run in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also enabled NOCs to further refine their planning through one-to-one meetings and dedicated information points held across the week.
The Chefs de Mission Seminar builds on earlier engagement with NOCs, including the NOC Open Day held during the fourth edition of the Dakar en Jeux festival in November 2025, which brought together 42 delegations on site.
Kevin Flanegin, from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee delegation, said: “The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are a tremendous opportunity for young people. It’s one of the world’s biggest events for sport and youth, and it will be spectacular.”
Zalina Marghieva, representing the NOC of Moldova, praised the Organising Committee’s work, stating: “Congratulations, as it is a great achievement and a great responsibility to be the first African country to host the Youth Olympic Games. Keep up the good work; the hardest part is already done – you just need to keep moving forward.”
Jean Claude Rugigana from Rwanda further highlighted the significance of the moment for the continent: “It is an honour for the continent to host the Youth Olympic Games for the first time. We are very happy and proud to contribute as much as possible. It is a great source of inspiration for young people.”
As preparations for the first Olympic sporting event on the African continent continue, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee will build on the feedback gathered during the seminar and continue working closely with NOCs and the IOC to refine services and ensure a memorable experience for all delegations.
The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
More information
Dakar 2026 will be the first Youth Olympic Games to feature a Youth Refugee Olympic Team – another step in the IOC’s ongoing commitment to support refugees and displaced people through sport and at all levels. The exact composition and selection of the Youth Refugee Olympic Team for Dakar 2026 will be determined at a later date.
Africa currently hosts more than 47 million out of the over 120 million displaced people globally – the Youth Refugee Olympic Team in 2026 will serve to draw attention to this reality. Through its work, the Olympic Refuge Foundation has for many years been supporting displaced people across the African continent through sport.