"VAN" (Sports Desk - 12.08.2026) :: Somalia hopes to step onto the global stage with a renewed hope as the country prepares its largest-ever youth team for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. For the first time, Somali athletes will compete across multiple disciplines, with the National Olympic Committee confirming the participation in athletics, taekwondo, and boxing events.
The expanded Youth Olympic team, marks a significant shift from previous Games where Somalia’s delegation was small and narrowly focused. “Preparations are well underway and our athletes are undertaking high-standard trainings both in and outside the country,” said Duran Ahmed Farah, Senior Vice President of the Somali National Olympic Committee. “This year Somalia has high expectations of winning some medals in the upcoming Youth Summer Olympic Games. “The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, set to be the first Olympic event held on African soil, carries symbolic weight for Somalia,” Somali NOC senior vice president, Duran Farah, said.
He said that the Games represent more than a competition — they are a chance to showcase a new generation of Somali talent rising despite decades of conflict. The senior Somali NOC official said that training camps are currently running in Mogadishu, and as well as in friendly countries.
With the assistance from the International Olympic Committee, Somali athletes selected through national trials have been in residential trainings for the past several months, focusing on conditioning, technique, and competition readiness. The optimism inside the camps, is clear. For many of the young athletes, Dakar will be their first major international tournament.
Somalia’s road to Dakar 2026 comes as the nation is still recovering from decades of civil unrest, terrorism, and prolonged droughts. While government institutions continue to rebuild, sport has emerged as one of the few consistent platforms for youth engagement and national unity.
However, funding remains a major challenge. The Somali Olympic Committee says it receives no government budget for elite sport and relies heavily on support from international partners, particularly the International Olympic Committee. “We thank the IOC for the continued support and funding,” Farah said. “Without their solidarity, our participation at this level would not be possible,” he added.
“Young people who once had no pathway now have jerseys, coaches, and goals,” Farah explained. For Duran Ahmed Farah, the 2026 Games are about laying a foundation. “A medal would be historic, but gaining experience is seen as a win for a country rebuilding its sporting system from the ground up,” he said after top Somali NOC officials visited a training camp in Mogadishu over the weekend.
“Somalia is recovering and our youth are proof of that recovery,” Farah said. "They are training hard, they are hopeful, and they are ready to represent our flag with pride.” He added.
With less than 3 months to go, Somalia’s youth team is carrying more than sporting ambition to Senegal. They are carrying the story of a nation determined to turn resilience into results.
Cr-AIPS
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