The National Sports Commission (NSC) has unveiled the operational schedule for Team Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13.
The event will be the first Olympic sporting competition hosted on African soil, bringing together young athletes from across the world.
Team Nigeria will compete in six sports: athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball.
As part of preparations, the Nigerian contingent will undergo a 21-day local camping programme from October 9 to 29 before departing Abuja for Senegal on October 29.
The camping programme will include medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical preparations, kit fitting, travel documentation and final confirmation of participation requirements.
The team is expected to arrive in Dakar on October 30 for accreditation, accommodation arrangements, equipment checks, technical meetings and familiarisation with competition venues across the three host zones of Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
The opening ceremony will take place on October 31 at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, where competitions in table tennis and beach volleyball will also begin.
Nigeria’s campaign will continue with swimming starting on November 1, while boxing is scheduled for November 7 to 12.
Athletics and road cycling will take place on selected dates between November 8 and 10.
The beach volleyball competition will be held at Saly Beach West, while table tennis and boxing will take place at the Dakar Expo Centre.
Swimming will be staged at the Tour de l’Œuf complex, road cycling along Corniche Ouest, and athletics at the Iba Mar Diop Complex.
The Games will end with the closing ceremony at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on November 13. The Nigerian contingent is expected to return to Abuja after completing departure formalities and reconciling its equipment.
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The operational timeline is designed to coordinate the team’s preparations, travel, accreditation and competition schedules while ensuring that athletes and officials are adequately prepared for the demands of the international event.
Nigeria’s participation in Dakar 2026 is part of the country’s broader efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development, nurture emerging talents and create pathways for young athletes to progress to elite international competition.
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