The National Sports Commission (NSC) has unveiled the operational timeline for Team Nigeria’s participation within the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to happen in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
The Games, which would be the first Olympic sporting occasion hosted on African soil, will convey collectively younger athletes from the world over, with Team Nigeria set to compete in six sports activities: athletics, boxing, street biking, swimming, desk tennis and seashore volleyball.
The Nigerian contingent will start with a 21-day native tenting programme from 9 to 29 October 2026, forward of the staff’s departure from Abuja on twenty ninth October.
The tenting programme will characteristic medical screening, anti-doping training, technical and tactical preparations, equipment becoming, journey documentation and ultimate affirmation of the staff’s participation necessities.
Team Nigeria is anticipated to reach in Dakar on thirtieth October for accreditation, lodging and gear checks, technical conferences and familiarisation with competitors venues throughout the three host zones of Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
The opening ceremony will happen on thirty first October on the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, the identical day competitions start in desk tennis and seashore volleyball.
The competitors schedule will see seashore volleyball and desk tennis lead Nigeria’s marketing campaign from 31 October, with swimming starting on 1st November. Boxing is scheduled for seventh to twelfth November, whereas athletics and street biking will happen on chosen dates between eighth and tenth November.
Beach volleyball might be staged at Saly Beach West, desk tennis and boxing at Dakar Expo Centre, swimming on the Tour de l’Œuf advanced, street biking alongside Corniche Ouest and athletics on the Iba Mar Diop Complex.
The Games will conclude with the closing ceremony on thirteenth November on the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, after which the Nigerian contingent is anticipated to return to Abuja following the completion of departure formalities and gear reconciliation.
The operational timeline is designed to coordinate Team Nigeria’s preparations, journey, accreditation and competitors schedules, whereas making certain that athletes and officers are adequately ready for the calls for of the worldwide sporting occasion.
Nigeria’s participation in Dakar 2026 kinds a part of the nation’s broader efforts to strengthen grassroots sports activities growth, nurture rising skills and set up a pathway for younger athletes to progress to elite worldwide competitors.
