Ghana unveil 13-athlete squad for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Ghana has unveiled the 13 young athletes who will represent the country at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, with officials hopeful the team can return home with medals from the first Olympic event to be staged in Africa.

The squad was presented at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon on Tuesday during the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), an International Olympic Committee (IOC) initiative that promotes the values of excellence, friendship and respect among young people.

More than 100 schoolchildren took part in the programme, which also gave them the opportunity to meet members of Team Ghana ahead of the Games in neighbouring Senegal.

Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) president Richard Akpokavie said the initiative was designed to inspire the next generation while supporting the country's preparations for Dakar 2026.

"The programme is to teach the IOC Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect to young people ahead of next month's Youth Olympic Games in Dakar – the first to be held on the continent," Akpokavie said.

During the event, the athletes shared their stories, ambitions and experiences of the Olympic journey, while pupils from several schools joined in celebrating the occasion.

Chef de Mission Evans Yeboah said he was confident the Ghanaian team had the potential to win medals and urged the athletes to make the most of the historic opportunity.

"This is the first time the Youth Olympic Games is coming to Africa, and the young athletes must take advantage to shine," he said.

Ghana will compete in seven sports: boxing, athletics, swimming, table tennis, badminton, judo and taekwondo.

Presidents and executives of the various sports federations attended the ceremony.

The Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar from 31 October to 13 November, with athletes from 206 nations expected to take part.