Build talent for Dakar glory

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Noc-K) and its affiliates must take the 2026 Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 31–November 13 in Dakar, Senegal, with the seriousness it deserves.

They have their work cut out knowing that Kenya’s representation at the next two editions of the Olympic Games in 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane will bank on the structures laid now to produce quality athletes.

We hope that Noc-K and federations were keen using the just-ended Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa in Nairobi to identify a team for the Dakar Games.

Kenya topped the medal standings in the games that attracted 11 countries with 50 medals: 22 gold, 21 silver and seven bronze.

The gold medals from the games that were being held after seven years were drawn from swimming that had 12, athletics with seven, beach volleyball with two and judo one.

The just concluded Secondary School Games both locally and regionally also formed a good pool from which to identify talent and team. It is heartwarming that from the quota allocated to Kenya of 54 athletes in 13 sports at the Dakar Games, more than 50 per cent will be girls, a move that is tailored to improving the girls' standards and effecting equality.

As Noc-K and sports federations intensify the selection of Team Kenya, they must aim to improve on results from the previous 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the country collected four medals: three gold and one silver, all from athletics. We should expect more medals from Dakar by virtue of having a larger representation than ever before with only 19 athletes having attended the 2018 Games.

But to achieve this, they must build an environment where these juniors will be able to thrive and grow their talent, and this should be through the provision of good sports infrastructure in terms of facilities, coaching and competitions.

Kenya has talent, but in the end, we hope federations will uphold the highest integrity and fairness when selecting their respective teams or athletes for the Dakar Games.

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