The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is using the build-up to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar to introduce schoolchildren to the Olympic Movement and inspire a new generation to take up sport.
About 500 children between nine and 16 years are expected to participate in an Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) at the University of Ghana Stadium, Legon, as Ghana prepares for the historic Games.
The Dakar Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, will be the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil, providing an opportunity for the continent to showcase its sporting talent and deepen youth participation in sport.
Ghana is expected to be represented by 13 young athletes across several sporting disciplines at the Games.
The GOC’s initiative is therefore designed to extend the significance of Dakar 2026 beyond the athletes selected to represent the country by engaging young people and exposing them to the ideals underpinning the Olympic Movement.
The children taking part in the programme will be introduced to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect through a combination of education and sporting activities.
A key feature of the programme will be a 12-kilometre walk and run around the University of Ghana athletic oval, during which participants will take part in the symbolic passing of the Olympic torch.
The activity is also intended to encourage the children to adopt active and healthy lifestyles while helping them understand the wider role of sport in personal development and social interaction.
Through the OVEP, the GOC seeks to demonstrate that the Olympic Movement extends beyond competition and medals, with sport serving as a vehicle for education, discipline, friendship and respect.
The programme will also provide an opportunity for schoolchildren to connect with the significance of Dakar 2026 and appreciate Ghana’s participation in the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.
The initiative forms part of the GOC’s broader efforts to promote Olympic education and strengthen interest in sport among young people as Ghana prepares to send its next generation of athletes to Dakar.
With the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching, the GOC is seeking to use the occasion not only to prepare Ghana’s young competitors but also to bring the Olympic values closer to schoolchildren across the country.
