80 prospects begin early preps for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Since November 2023, 80 young Rwandan athletes in swimming, tennis, table tennis, and cycling have been working to secure tickets for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), through the Youth Athlete Development Programme 2021-2024 provided by Olympic Solidarity, is supporting four national sports federations. The federations look to identify and train young athletes for both national and international youth competitions, with a primary focus on the Youth Olympics. Alice Umulinga, President of RNOSC, says this program not only acts as a catalyst in nurturing the potential of young talents for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games” but it also stands as a ‘lasting contribution’ to the advancement of Rwanda's sports movement. “By empowering the next generation of champions,” she added, “we aim to strengthen the foundation of sporting excellence within our nation.” On top of honing their athletic skills at the training camps, the 80 youngsters were also given a chance to familiarise themselves with Olympic values and anti-doping measures in sports. Swimming: The Rwanda Swimming Federation hosted dual training camps, a two-week out-of-camp clinic for 130 athletes from November 4 to 19, and a three-day in-camp clinic for 30 elite participants at La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata on November 20-22. The culmination of this preparation was marked by the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Championships in Kigali from November 23 to 26, where Christian Byiringiro, a beneficiary of the Youth Athlete Development Programme, secured a gold medal in 400m freestyle and Silver in 100m breaststroke. Tennis: The Rwanda Tennis Federation conducted a two-week training camp for 12 talents aged between 12 and 15, running from December 21, 2023, to January 04, 2024, at IPRC Kicukiro. Outstanding participants from the camp represented the country at the ITF/CAT Eastern African Junior Individual & Teams’ Championships in Bujumbura, Burundi. Table Tennis: From December 21 to 24, the Rwanda Table Tennis Federation hosted a four-day training camp. Twenty athletes were accommodated at Hilltop Hotel in Kigali, and the training sessions took place at the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. Cycling: Eighteen young cyclists from five different local clubs, namely Les Amis Sportifs, Kangaro Cycling Generation, Bugesera Cycling Team, and Ndabaga Cycling Team, participated in a two-day training camp on December 09-10, before competing in the Rwanda Youth National Championships 2023 on December 17. The top three positions in the Women’s and Men’s U15 categories were clinched by participants from the programme. The camp, hosted at the Field of Dreams/Gasore Serge Foundation in Bugesera, provided participants with an opportunity to enhance their techniques and skills under the guidance of their respective club coaches.