Wednesday 28 / October / 2026
MUSCAT: Omani athletes are gearing up to take part in the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, Dakar 2026, which will be held in Senegal from October 31 to November 13.
Oman, represented by the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), will vie in this edition of the Youth Olympic Games with three national teams in fencing, aquatics and taekwondo.
Dakar 2026 holds special significance as the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil. The Games are expected to bring together around 2,700 athletes representing 206 National Olympic Committees, competing in 25 sports across 151 medal events. Approximately 6,000 volunteers will support the event, with competitions taking place across eight sports venues in three host cities.
The Games aim to showcase emerging sporting talent, promote Olympic values and strengthen friendship and cultural exchange among young people from around the world.
Young swimmer Hamed al Hasani will lead Oman's campaign, making his Olympic debut in aquatics. He will compete in the men's 400m and 800m freestyle events at the Tour de l'Œuf swimming complex in Dakar, scheduled for November 1 and 3.
Oman's second appearance will come through young national taekwondo athlete Ziyad Ali al Balushi, who will compete in the men's under-48kg category on November 8 at the Iba Mar Diop complex in Dakar.
Fencer Jana al Sharji will conclude Oman's participation when she will vie in the women's individual épée event on November 10 at Dakar Expo in Diamniadio.
Jana recently won a silver medal at the World Fencing Championships in Costa Rica, adding further significance to her appearance at the Youth Olympic Games.
Logistical arrangements completed
Saheem bin Khalaf al Subhi, Acting Oman’s Chief De Mission to Dakar 2026, affirmed that all the logistical, administrative and organisational arrangements had been completed to receive the national team athletes participating in the Games.
"Over the past few days, since our arrival in Dakar, we have completed all the necessary procedures for accommodating the national teams in the Olympic Village," Al Subhi said.
He explained that the third meeting of delegation heads, held recently, addressed several important organisational matters, including registration procedures and the reception of participating teams at the Olympic Village. The meeting also outlined communication channels with the organisers regarding transportation to and from competition venues and the return of athletes to the village. The meeting provided updates on the readiness of sports facilities and competition venues.
Al Subhi said coordination had also taken place with representatives of the national teams to inform them of the distances between their competition venues and the Olympic Village, helping them prepare for transportation and scheduling requirements.
The meeting further discussed arrangements for the opening ceremony, including the number of delegation members permitted to attend the proceedings and the completion of the relevant forms for the designated flagbearer.
Al Subhi stressed that all delegation members must carry their accreditation cards throughout the Games. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.
Oman's Youth Olympic Games history
Oman's participation in the Youth Olympic Games dates back to the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010, when the Sultanate was represented by two athletes in athletics and equestrian sport.
That debut produced a notable achievement when Omani equestrian Sultan al Toqi won a silver medal in the mixed-team show jumping competition. The event brought together riders from different countries, giving Oman an early highlight in the history of the Youth Olympic Games and demonstrating the potential of its young athletes to compete internationally.
However, the medal is not counted in Oman's official national medal tally, as it was won as part of a mixed team comprising athletes of different nationalities rather than a team representing Oman alone.
Oman continued their participation at the second edition in Nanjing, China, in 2014, sending three athletes — two boys and one girl — to compete in athletics and beach volleyball.
The participation offered young Omani athletes further opportunities to gain international experience, compete against athletes from different sporting backgrounds and learn about the demands of a multi-sport international event.
Oman's involvement continued at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the country participated in sailing and athletics.
Sprinter Ali al Balushi qualified for the Games following an impressive performance at the Asian athletics qualifying championships for the Youth Olympic Games. He reached the final of his event and finished sixth, setting a new personal best in the process.
The Buenos Aires edition extended Oman's presence across the first three editions of the Youth Olympic Games while adding to the range of sports in which Omani athletes have represented the country internationally.
Attention now turns to Dakar 2026, the fourth edition of the Games, where Oman hopes to build on its previous experiences and achieve stronger competitive results while gaining valuable technical and sporting experience.
