What are the Youth Olympic Games?
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are the International Olympic Committee's global multi-sport event for young athletes aged 15 to 18, created to bring the Olympic format and values to the world's best junior competitors. Summer and Winter editions alternate, and around 2,700 athletes will compete at the next Summer edition in Dakar.[1] [2]
Who organizes the Youth Olympic Games?
The IOC owns the Games; each edition is staged by a host organizing committee, with sports run under their international federations and athletes entered by their National Olympic Committees — the same structure as the Olympic Games.[1] [3]
When and where are they held?
Summer and Winter YOG each run on a four-year cycle. The fourth Summer edition takes place in Dakar, Senegal, 31 October – 13 November 2026 — the first Olympic sporting event ever held in Africa.[2] [3]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Summer | Dakar (SEN), 31 Oct–13 Nov — first in Africa; postponed from 2022 |
| 2024 | Winter | Gangwon (KOR) |
| 2020 | Winter | Lausanne (SUI) |
| 2018 | Summer | Buenos Aires (ARG) |
| 2016 | Winter | Lillehammer (NOR) |
| 2014 | Summer | Nanjing (CHN) |
| 2012 | Winter | Innsbruck (AUT) |
| 2010 | Summer | Singapore (SGP) |
Dakar was originally awarded 2022 and postponed to 2026 by agreement with the IOC during the pandemic.[3]
Since when do they exist?
The first Summer YOG were held in Singapore in 2010 and the first Winter YOG in Innsbruck in 2012; Buenos Aires 2018 and Gangwon 2024 were the most recent Summer and Winter editions before Dakar.[1] [3]
How do athletes qualify?
Qualification is sport-specific, set by each international federation with the IOC: places are earned through youth and junior world championships, continental qualifiers and rankings, within NOC quotas and the Games' age bands (15–18, defined per sport). Athletes are selected and entered by their National Olympic Committees, with universality places ensuring broad participation.[1] [2]
Why do the Youth Olympic Games matter?
The YOG are the highest-level global multi-sport competition available to junior athletes, and their medalists routinely progress to Olympic podiums. Selection requires winning an NOC place through international junior qualification — making participation itself a mark of elite standing in an athlete's age group.[1] [2]
Who competes?
National youth teams from the world's NOCs — thousands of athletes per edition across Olympic sports and youth-oriented additions (breaking and wushu among sports that debuted at YOG level).[2] [4]
References
- IOC — Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — Dakar 2026: key dates, venues and guide. Accessed August 2026.
- IOC — Dakar 2026: 100 days to go to Africa's first Olympic sporting event. Accessed August 2026.
- IWUF — Dakar 2026 competition schedule: wushu's Youth Olympic debut. Accessed August 2026.