NOC Discusses Qualification Requirements and Participation Criteria for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with Sports Federations

The Technical and Sports Affairs Department of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC) held a joint coordination meeting on Thursday evening at the Committee’s headquarters in Dubai with representatives of relevant national sports federations. The meeting focused on preparations for participation in the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games – Dakar 2026, which will feature 2,700 athletes competing in 151 events across 25 sports. 

Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Director of the Technical and Sports Affairs Department at the NOC, delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the participation requirements. These included eligibility and qualification standards approved by the International Olympic Committee and the respective International Federations, along with timelines, age-specific technical criteria, international licensing, and qualification frameworks. 

An open discussion followed, allowing federation representatives to raise questions and share observations. Key follow-up areas were identified to ensure optimal preparedness for this landmark Olympic event. 

The sports programme for Dakar 2026 comprises 25 disciplines: swimming, athletics, boxing, rugby, basketball (3x3), equestrian, judo, taekwondo, fencing, archery, table tennis, badminton, sailing, rowing, wrestling, beach handball, beach volleyball, and triathlon. 

During the meeting, participants discussed the detailed qualification criteria for each sport, with particular emphasis on the age requirement specifying that eligible athletes must be born between 2009 and 2010. Additional criteria were reviewed, such as the requirement for swimmers to appear in the World Aquatics rankings during the qualification window from 1 February 2025 to 1 May 2026. 

For badminton, athletes must have participated in at least one event sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation or be listed in the BWF Junior World Rankings prior to the final athlete registration deadline of 25 September 2026. 

The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, marking the first time an African nation hosts an Olympic event. Dakar 2026 is set to be a transformative milestone, fostering development in sport, society, culture, education, and the economy—offering young athletes new opportunities, inspiration, and confidence in the future.