First Youth Refugee Olympic Team Set for Dakar 2026 as Foundation Reaches 33,000 Young People
Dakar, 24 April 2026
The Olympic Refuge Foundation has supported 33 young refugee athletes preparing to compete as the inaugural Youth Refugee Olympic Team at Dakar 2026, marking a historic milestone in Olympic competition. This achievement comes as the foundation reached over 33,000 displaced young people worldwide through sports programmes in 2025, training more than 1,600 coaches across five continents. With around 49 million forcibly displaced children globally, the initiative provides unprecedented opportunities for refugee youth to represent their communities on sport’s biggest stage whilst addressing the growing displacement crisis.
Foundation’s Expanding Global Reach
The Olympic Refuge Foundation’s Annual Activity Report 2025, published on 22nd April 2026, revealed the remarkable scope of its operations across displaced communities worldwide [1][2]. The foundation’s programmes now span five continents, providing safe spaces and sports opportunities in communities, cities, settlements and camps globally [1]. Beyond the 33,000 young people directly reached, the foundation’s Sport for Refugees Coalition has grown to include more than 170 member organisations, collectively providing sports access to over 529,000 people affected by displacement since 2023 [1][2].
Coach Development at the Heart of Success
Central to the foundation’s impact has been its comprehensive coach training programme, which prepared more than 1,600 coaches during 2025 [1][2]. The Sport Coach+ initiative, developed in partnership with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Hub, represents a particularly significant achievement in creating sustainable support networks [1]. These trained coaches serve as vital community anchors, enabling local ownership of sports programmes and ensuring continuity of support for displaced populations. A 17-year-old participant in Kinyinya exemplifies this empowerment approach, explaining: “We organise our own club events now. Games, discussions, everything. We even talk about things like emotions and stress. The coach is there, but we manage it ourselves” [1].
Pioneering Programmes Across Continents
The foundation’s flagship initiatives demonstrate the breadth of its global commitment to refugee communities. In Kenya, the Play2Protect programme operating in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps reached 58,757 participants and trained 786 coaches, offering activities including football, volleyball and chess [1]. Meanwhile, Game Connect in Uganda and SPiRiT in Bangladesh have created vital community hubs, whilst Sport Coach+ has expanded throughout Europe [1][2]. These programmes represent more than recreational activities; they provide structured pathways for skill development, community building, and psychological support in often challenging circumstances.
Preparing for Historic Olympic Moments
The 33 young athletes preparing for Dakar 2026 represent just one dimension of the foundation’s athlete support efforts. Additionally, 47 senior refugee athletes received support through Olympic Solidarity during 2025, working towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games [1][2]. This dual-track approach ensures both immediate opportunities for young talent and longer-term development pathways for established athletes. The foundation’s Refugee Athlete Support programme provides crucial training resources, competition opportunities, and professional development support that would otherwise be inaccessible to displaced athletes.
Leadership Commitment Amid Growing Crisis
The foundation’s Board meeting on 21st April 2026 in Lausanne brought together senior Olympic leadership to address mounting global challenges [1][2]. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, attending her first Board meeting in this role, joined IOC Honorary President and Foundation Chair Thomas Bach and Vice-Chair Filippo Grandi in reaffirming the organisation’s commitment [1][2]. Bach warned that “the refugee crisis will not become smaller, and at the same time, the refugee crisis is losing attention,” emphasising the critical timing of the foundation’s expanded efforts [2]. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih reinforced this urgency in a pre-recorded message, noting: “With around 49 million forcibly displaced children globally, this initiative carries particular importance. It reminds us how deeply children are affected by conflict, persecution and displacement” [2]. The Board meeting, originally scheduled for Amman, Jordan, had to be relocated due to regional conflicts—a stark reminder of the very crises the foundation seeks to address [1][2].