Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Chef de Mission Angela Luchivya (R) with Senegal's Ambassador to Kenya Ndongo Dieng when the Dakar Youth Olympic Flame toured Nairobi/HANDOUTDakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Chef de Mission Angela Luchivya has challenged Kenya’s 54-athlete team to turn its preparations into strong performances when the Games are held in Senegal from October 31 to November 13.
Kenya will compete in 13 disciplines, with the team comprising athletes from wushu, judo, beach wrestling, triathlon, swimming, women’s rugby, beach handball, baseball, boxing, basketball, baseball5, rugby Sevens and athletics.
“We are now moving into the most important part of the programme. The athletes have had exposure, but we must ensure they understand what awaits them in Dakar and how to respond under pressure,” Luchivya said.
She said preparations go beyond physical training to include discipline, teamwork and the ability to adapt to a new environment.
“Our objective is to send athletes who are ready to compete, but also ready to learn. They must understand that Dakar is both a competition and an opportunity to begin building their international careers,” she said.
The recently concluded Zone Five Youth Games in Nairobi provided an important test for the team and allowed technical officials to assess the athletes ahead of Dakar.
Kenya topped the judo standings with five gold, three silver and one bronze medals, while its swimmers collected 12 medals. Athletics produced victories through Bramwel Chasala in the 200m and Wilson Chepkwech in the 1,500m.
Luchivya said the results should provide confidence without creating unnecessary pressure.
“The performances in Nairobi have shown that our athletes can compete, but they have also reminded us that there is still work to do. We will use the lessons from those Games to improve before Dakar,” she said.
“We do not want the athletes to be overwhelmed by the occasion. We want them to arrive confident, disciplined and clear about their individual responsibilities.”
Dakar 2026 will feature about 2,700 athletes competing across 25 sports and will be the first Olympic or Youth Olympic Games staged on African soil.
Luchivya said the delegation would also prepare the athletes for the cultural and educational aspects of the Games.
“Dakar will expose them to athletes from across the world and to experiences outside their usual training environment. We want them to embrace that opportunity while remaining focused on their events,” she said.
The Nairobi Games also gave some athletes an opportunity to strengthen their cases for selection and international competition. Chasala, for instance, used his 200m victory to strengthen his case for Dakar selection after missing the World Junior Championships.
The final weeks will focus on sharpening the athletes’ technical and physical readiness for the multi-sport Games environment.
NOC-K has identified the Dakar Youth Olympic Games as part of Kenya’s wider athlete-development pathway, with the organisation’s Team Kenya programme covering athletes, coaches and delegations.
The Olympic flame for Dakar was lit at Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium on September 10 before beginning its journey to Senegal.
The remaining task for the delegation is to fine-tune preparations before departure for Senegal.
