Fiji eyes Dakar 2026
FIJI may get the opportunity to participate at the first Olympic event in Africa: the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal in 2026.
Fiji has participated at three other Summer Youth Games in 2018, 2014 and 2010.
Athletes like Serenia Ragatu (athletics), Lora Bukalidi and Tiara Dutta (hockey), Meli Malani (swimming), Grace Yee (table tennis) and Charlie Lolohea (weightlifting) are just some of the athletes who have participated at the Summer Youth Games.
Team Fiji has won two bronze medals and a silver medal while participating in the Summer Youth Games.
Fiji participated at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the sport of athletics, badminton and table tennis and the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China in the sport of athletics, field hockey women, rugby sevens men, swimming and weightlifting.
Fiji first participated in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore in the sport of athletics, judo, swimming and weightlifting.
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee chief executive Vanessa Kilner said Team Fiji was very much focused on developing sports and long-term athlete development and participating in the Summer Youth Games was a pathway for emerging young talent.
“The youth games came about in response to growing global concerns about childhood obesity and the dropping participation of youth in sport activities, especially amongst youth in developed nations.
“We recognise these concerns in Fiji and hope to encourage more youth members to participate in sports with the aim to participate in a global event like the Summer Youth Olympics,” she said.
Kilner said the sports which would participate were yet to be announced.
“We encourage young sports administrators to apply once we send out Expressions of Interest for the position of CdM (Chef de Mission) and hopefully use that as a pathway to one day becoming the CdM for Team Fiji to the Olympic Games,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC) celebrates 1000 days to go until the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 which holds historical significance as it will be the first Olympic event to be held on African soil.
“We cannot wait for the moment to enjoy the first Olympic event on African soil, an event for Africa, with Africa, that will welcome the youth of the world in Senegal,” the IOC President, Thomas Bach, said.
The Summer Youth Games will be held from October 31 – November 13, 2026.