UAE National Olympic Committee Prepares for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
The Technical and Sports Affairs Department of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC) hosted a joint coordination meeting at its Dubai headquarters with representatives from key national sports federations. The primary focus was on strategic preparations for the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games – Dakar 2026, an event set to see 2,700 athletes competing in 151 events across 25 sports.
During the meeting, Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Director of the Technical and Sports Affairs Department at the NOC, delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting the stringent participation requirements. These include eligibility and qualification standards set by the International Olympic Committee and relevant International Federations. The session covered crucial aspects such as timelines, age-specific technical criteria, international licencing, and detailed qualification frameworks designed to streamline the selection and preparation process for the UAE’s young athletes.
An open discussion provided a platform for federation representatives to ask questions and share observations, resulting in the identification of key follow-up areas. These will be addressed to ensure optimal preparedness and to maximize the UAE’s prospects at this landmark Olympic event.
The sports programme for Dakar 2026 comprises 25 disciplines: swimming, athletics, boxing, rugby, basketball (3×3), equestrian, judo, taekwondo, fencing, archery, table tennis, badminton, sailing, rowing, wrestling, beach handball, beach volleyball, and triathlon.
Team V.4-EM-UAE