Two African Olympians share message of sportsmanship and fair play with Dakar 2026 athletes
With the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) starting in 10 days, Olympians Kady Kanoute Tounkara (Mali, basketball) and Khotso Mokoena (South Africa, athletics) call on young athletes to compete with integrity, respect and fair play. Ahead of the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil, they share their message to encourage the next generation of athletes to embrace the values of sport and carry them with them throughout the YOG and beyond.
Key facts
- Olympians Kady Kanoute Tounkara and Khotso Mokoena call on Dakar 2026 athletes to uphold the values of integrity and fair sport.
- Kanoute Tounkara and Mokoena are among six Believe in Sport Ambassadors who will engage directly with athletes and their entourage members throughout the YOG.
- Athletes and entourage members can take part in interactive integrity education activities at the Believe in Sport booth in Athlete365 House in the Olympic Village.
Safeguarding sport: a collective responsibility
Kady Kanoute Tounkara, a Malian basketball Olympian at Beijing 2008, calls on athletes to recognise their collective responsibility to safeguard fair and clean competition.
“Protecting sport is a shared responsibility, and every athlete has a role to play in preserving fairness and respect. True victory cannot be bought, manipulated or shortcut. It comes from talent, dedication and honest effort.”
Addressing all young athletes preparing to compete at Dakar 2026, she said: “When you leave Dakar, I hope you will carry the conviction that being a champion in life means choosing what is right over what is easy, and honouring the Olympic values with an unwavering heart.”
I can’t wait to meet the athletes in Dakar and contribute to an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
A historic moment for Africa
For Khotso Mokoena, a four-time Olympian for South Africa in long jump (Beijing 2008 – silver, and London 2012) and triple jump (Athens 2004 and Rio 2016), respecting the values of sport is fundamental to long-term success.
Sharing his message with the athletes who will compete at Dakar 2026, he said: “It is important for young athletes to understand that when you respect your sport, your competitors and the values of fair competition, you create opportunities to excel and build longevity in your sporting career. Integrity is not only about how you compete, but also about the kind of athlete and person you become along the journey.”
The first Olympic event to be held on his continent has a special meaning for Mokoena.
The Youth Olympic Games coming to Africa is a very special moment. I am excited to meet these athletes, hear their stories and share some of my own experiences. Hopefully, I can help them understand that integrity and hard work are the foundations of every successful sporting journey.
A global team of Believe in Sport ambassadors
Khotso Mokoena and Kady Kanoute Tounkara are part of the Dakar 2026 Believe in Sport Ambassador team, who will engage with athletes and encourage them to make informed and ethical decisions, while helping to safeguard sport from competition manipulation.
Alongside the two African Olympians, the Ambassador team for Dakar 2026 includes:
- Matelita Buadromo (Fiji, swimming)
- Esra Gümüş Kırıcı (Türkiye, volleyball)
- Ayako Rokkaku (Japan, baseball)
- Arthur Zanetti (Brazil, gymnastics)
Bringing integrity education to life
At Dakar 2026, athletes and their entourage members will be invited to visit the Believe in Sport booth in Athlete365 House in the Olympic Village. Through interactive activities, participants will learn how to recognise and respond to risks associated with competition manipulation. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to empower young athletes to make the right decisions and protect the integrity of sport throughout their careers.
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 the three host zones of Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
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