Ghana has unveiled 13 young athletes who will represent the country at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, at an Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) held on Tuesday, September 22, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
The programme, organised by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) as part of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Values Education Programme, brought together the selected athletes and over 200 schoolchildren from different schools.
The initiative is designed to introduce young people to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, as Ghana prepares to participate in the Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Africa for the first time.
The event created an exciting atmosphere as schoolchildren from different institutions participated in activities celebrating the Olympic movement. The programme also brought together heads of sports federations, coaches and executive members of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
The 13 athletes qualified to represent Ghana will compete across eight sporting disciplines. They include athletics, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, judo, taekwondo, swimming and table tennis.
Chef de Mission for Team Ghana, Evans Yeboah, described the occasion as an important moment for Ghana and Africa as the country prepares for the global youth sporting event.
“An exciting day for Ghana, for Africa, and for Dakar. This is the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, starting in Dakar from October 31 to November 13. “It will be the fourth-ever edition in the world for this global showcase of talent for young kids aged between 14 and 17 years old. Dakar is representing Africa, and for the first time, an Olympic Games is going to be held on African soil.
“We deem it that it is Ghana’s moment and it is Africa’s brightest chance. Again, 206 countries will be represented across a total of eight qualified disciplines that Ghana was able to qualify for over the last few years. “At the end of the day, we have athletics, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, judo, taekwondo, swimming and table tennis. These young lads represent the hopes and aspirations of the country come next month.” Yeboah said the presence and support of the Ghana Olympic Committee and government had provided encouragement to the young athletes as they prepare for their first major Olympic experience.
He added that Team Ghana will enter a residential camp next month as part of preparations before travelling to Dakar in the third week of October, where the team is expected to spend about 10 days acclimatising ahead of the Games. “The presence from the Olympic Committee side and from the government side has been very exciting. Next month, the team will be in residential camp preparing to leave by the third week of next month to have a full 10 days of acclimatisation just before beginning the Olympic Games.”
Mr. Yeboah also highlighted Ghana’s history at previous Youth Olympic Games, noting the country’s participation since the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010 and the gold medal won in athletics at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. “We are so prepared and so ready for the Olympic Games, having had our laurels starting from Singapore 2010, with the highest being the Olympic gold medal that was gotten in athletics, 800 metres, in China in 2014. Again, six years ago, we were represented in 2018 in Buenos Aires for the Youth Olympic Games.”
He expressed confidence in the young athletes and said Team Ghana was ready to embrace the Olympic experience in Dakar. “Team Ghana is ready and it’s exciting to see these young lads showcase the Olympic dream that they hope to see at all times.”
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, marking the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.
By: Victoria Kwofie
