The official medals for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have been unveiled, marking another milestone on the road to the first Olympic event on African soil.
Inspired by powerful Senegalese symbols including the lion and the baobab tree, the medals reflect the vision of Dakar 2026 to connect the country’s history and future while celebrating a new generation of athletes.
Archery will be among the sports contested at the Youth Olympic Games, with 64 athletes set to compete in individual and mixed team events from 31 October to 13 November. The archery competition will take place at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio.
The unveiling comes as preparations intensify for Dakar 2026, which will bring together around 2700 young athletes from across the world in 25 sports. The Games will be the first Olympic sporting event held on the African continent.
Tickets for Dakar 2026 are already on sale, with options including sport-specific sessions and multievent passes. Archery sessions can be booked through the official Dakar 2026 ticketing platform.
The archery community will also have a familiar face in Dakar, with Lisa Barbelin appointed as an Athlete Role Model for the Games. The two-time Olympian and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist will share her experience with young athletes, while taking part in workshops and educational activities during the Games.
Barbelin has said she wants to create a space where young athletes feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their concerns, with her role centred on “sharing, listening and kindness”.
The official story behind the medals and their symbols can be found on the Dakar 2026 website, while the full history of Youth Olympic Games medal designs can be explored in the collection covering editions from Singapore 2010 to Dakar 2026.
Medal photographs © Dakar 2026.
