More than 800 children under the age of 16, the majority from the “Isonga-AFD” project, are set to be selected and trained to represent Rwanda at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Dakar, Senegal.
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, competitions began in Nyanza District, involving boys and girls in various sports disciplines.
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 14, 2026, in Dakar, marking the first time this event is held in Africa.
Rwanda has participated in similar competitions in the past, though winning medals has been a challenge. This time, however, the country aims to have a stronger and more successful representation.
To address the previous medal drought, the Ministry of Sports, in collaboration with various sports federations, has organized an initiative to select and prepare young athletes for improved performance.
A total of 870 children—435 boys and 435 girls—will participate. They will compete in seven sports:
- Basketball
- Football (Soccer)
- Volleyball
- Cycling
- Athletics (Track and Field)
- Taekwondo
- Handball
Participants include children from schools involved in the “Isonga-AFD” project (implemented by the Ministry of Sports), the Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Rwanda, the Bayern Munich Academy, and others.
The selection will be carried out by coaches from each sport, based on the scheduled competitions.
All teams will compete in qualifying rounds set to take place between June 26 and 27, with the finals scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The games will be held at Igihozo St. Peter School, Christ Roi Nyanza, Mater Dei School, and Nyanza District Stadium.
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