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The Youth Games draw to a close Friday evening in Senegal, with organisers calling the first Olympics ever hosted on African soil a success that proves the continent capable of hosting a major international event.The country welcomed nearly 2,700 young competitors under age 17 from around the world, who competed across 25 sports and 153 medal events over the course of two weeks.Across the capital -- one of three municipalities where competitions took place -- the enthusiasm was palpable, with spectators erupting into booming cheers whenever a Senegalese or other African athlete scored or won.A total of 136 Senegalese athletes competed in the Games, against a backdrop of enthusiasm usually reserved for football in the west African nation of some 19 million.Banners placed across the city proclaimed "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates" and enormous statues of mascot Ayo the lion decorated intersections and landmarks."I think that everyone came here with certain expectations and I think those expectations have been far exceeded", International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, said in her closing address Thursday."Now I think we've shown the world the capability that we have and now we need to choose to take that forward", she said.GOLD MEDAL WINNERSChina took home the most gold medals at 18, including multiple golds in artistic gymnastics, athletics, swimming and rowing coastal beach sprints. Japan followed next with 11 and Russia eight.Next in line were three African nations: Egypt with six and Ethiopia and Senegal with five each.Final competitions were held Friday in beach handball, breaking and fencing, followed by a closing ceremony in the evening at the Youth Olympic Village in the Dakar suburb of Diamniadio for athletes, delegations and dignitaries."One of the challenges, which we acknowledged from the very beginning, was to demonstrate that across all five continents there is an equal capacity to rise to such a challenge", Ibrahima Wade, general coordinator of the Organising Committee for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games said during closing remarks."It was a test, and we had to succeed to show that Africa has its place in hosting major future events."Dakar, Diamniadio and the beach town of Saly located some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, all hosted events.The Youth Games marked the first Olympic competition since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 in which Russian athletes were allowed to compete under their own flag and colours.The Games also welcomed a refugee team, composed primarily of athletes based in Africa.South Africa could potentially become the first African nation to host the Olympic Games, having already paved the way by hosting the men's FIFA World Cup in 2010. The country is officially in the running for the 2036 Summer Olympics. 

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that the 2026 Youth Games will be held from 18 to 22 November under the slogan “Towards a Sporting Generation and a Promising Future”. The event will welcome a broad range of young male and female sporting talents, highlighting the QOC’s ongoing commitment to developing young athletes and investing in the next generation.The announcement was made at a press conference held by the Organising Committee at Al Wajba Hall, at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters. The event was attended by Abdullah Al Athba, Head of the Support Services Committee; Abdullah Al-Abdullah, Head of the Technical Committee; Abdulrahman Al Mulla, Padel Competition Manager; and Masoud Al Athba, Shooting and Archery Competition Manager.**media[515785]**Representatives of the event's sponsors and partners were also present, including United Development Company (UDC), Strategic Partner; Beanz, Official Refreshment Partner; The Dome, Padel Venue Sponsor; AlKalive, Official Water Supplier; Naseem Medical Centre, Official Health Care Supplier; and CRAVE, Sponsor of the Games, alongside representatives of media outlets.Abdullah Al Athba, Head of the Support Services Committee, welcomed and thanked the attendees before presenting the sports program for the Games. The program includes three sports: shooting, archery and padel, targeting boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17. He also highlighted the readiness of the competition venues, including their facilities, equipment and logistical arrangements, as well as the availability of organisational staff and volunteers to assist participants, their families and spectators at The Dome in Qatar Foundation and the Lusail Indoor Shooting Range.Abdullah Al-Abdullah, Head of the Technical Committee, outlined the technical and officiating framework for the competitions, noting that its implementation will involve close coordination with the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association and the Qatar Padel Federation.Abdulrahman Al-Mulla said the padel competitions aim to build on the sport’s growing popularity and turn young people’s enthusiasm into opportunities to identify promising players and develop future champions. He added that technical support and qualified officiating would help create the right competitive environment for young talent to flourish.Masoud Al-Athba, meanwhile, noted that shooting and archery offer more than sporting competition, helping young people develop discipline, responsibility, concentration and precision. He said the competitions also aim to identify promising Qatari athletes who can build on the country’s record of sporting achievements.According to the latest figures from the Organising Committee, 338 young people have registered for the Games, comprising 276 boys and 62 girls. A total of 95 participants are registered for the 10-metre recurve archery event, while 177 will compete in the 10-metre air rifle and air pistol events. Padel will feature 33 teams.The competitions will be held daily from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, giving young athletes the opportunity to showcase their abilities and gain valuable competitive experience. The Games will reach their conclusion on 22 November 2026 with the finals in shooting, archery and padel, followed by awards for the first- and second-place finishers in both the boys’ and girls’ categories across all three sports. On this occasion, Hind Al Ibrahim, Director of the 2026 Youth Games, said the event will help identify young athletes with strong potential and assess their readiness for further development. Outstanding participants may be considered for specialised training and preparation programs, paving the way for them to represent Qatar in future competitions. She said this approach forms part of the QOC’s commitment to building a comprehensive and sustainable pathway for nurturing sporting talent.**media[515783]**She added that preparations for the Doha 2030 Asian Games make the development of young athletes even more important. By equipping them with the experience and competitive skills needed to perform at the highest level, Qatar is laying the foundations for a new generation capable of strengthening the country's presence at major regional, continental and international sporting events.Meanwhile, Najlaa Alkhayareen, Head of the Games’ Marketing and Communications Committee, affirmed that the committee had adopted a promotional strategy centered on strengthening community engagement and bringing the Games closer to the public through direct interaction with different segments of society.She explained that the campaign, which began several weeks ago, involved a range of promotional activities across the community, including an event at Gewan Island that offered visitors the opportunity to experience padel and archery first-hand.Alkhayareen noted that the considerable turnout and enthusiastic engagement of young people and families demonstrated the positive impact of these initiatives in raising awareness of the Games and strengthening their connection with the community.She added that the committee had also put in place comprehensive media and digital coverage for the duration of the Games, ensuring that the public remains at the heart of the event. Through the official social media platforms, audiences will be able to follow the latest results, key highlights, photographs and stories documenting the participants’ experiences and achievements.

Doha's hosting of the 2030 Asian Games underscores Qatar's commitment to investing in emerging talent and honing their skills by providing competitive platforms that allow young athletes to showcase their potential, while opening new horizons for their development and enhancement of their performance levels. In this context, the inaugural edition of the 2026 Youth Games, scheduled to take place in Doha from Nov 18 to 22, stands out. Aimed at the 12-17 age group and held under the theme "Towards a Sporting Generation... and a Promising Future", the event serves as an initiative to discover emerging talent and encourage their participation in physical and competitive activities, ultimately helping to broaden the base of sports engagement. Speaking on this occasion, Director of the 2026 Youth Games, Hind al-Ibrahim, stated in an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Games represent a vital platform for identifying promising athletic talent by offering participants the chance to demonstrate their abilities in a competitive environment. She noted that outstanding athletes will be monitored in coordination with relevant authorities to explore how their potential can be harnessed, integrating them into training programs and future development plans, thereby increasing their prospects of representing the State of Qatar in upcoming sporting events. She explained that the organizing committee maintains continuous coordination with relevant sports federations and specialized technical committees to monitor performance, evaluate technical proficiency, and assess whether athletes possess the necessary attributes for development in shooting, archery, and padel. Furthermore, the focus on younger age groups reflects Qatar Olympic Committee's commitment to building a sustainable sporting foundation. This goes beyond merely increasing participation in physical activities; it extends to identifying promising talent, refining their skills, and providing pathways for them to advance their technical and competitive capabilities, ultimately supporting the future of Qatari sports. Al-Ibrahim noted that Doha's hosting of the 2030 Asian Games adds further significance to these efforts, as the goal is to prepare a generation of athletes with the experience and ability to compete on major stages. She emphasized that investing in talent from an early age is a cornerstone for securing a bright sporting future and strengthening Qatar's presence in regional, continental, and international events. The tournament features competitions in shooting, archery, and padel, a diverse range of sports that allows participants to test their abilities across different disciplines. It offers young talent the opportunity to showcase their potential in a competitive environment, paving the way for them to reach higher levels of athletic performance and excellence, serving as a milestone step toward preparing a new generation equipped to compete in future events. 

Qatar secured the 3x3 Basketball bronze medal at the ongoing 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain Monday.The squad featured Mohamed Saeed, Azzam Mohamed, Beka Yakani Mboji and Mohamoudou Diop. This marks Qatar’s fourth medal of the Games.Earlier, Idris Abubaker won gold in the 110-meter hurdles, while Dana Salem claimed silver in the women’s 100m.Qatar’s show jumping team also earned silver, with Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei, Amer Hamad al-Mansouri, Mohammed Issa al-Bukhari, and Abdulaziz Saud Fakhro contributing to the podium finish. The Games are scheduled to conclude on October 31.

Qatar added two more medals to its tally at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.In athletics, runner Dana Salem captured silver in the women’s 100m race, clocking 11.60 seconds. Gold went to Emirati sprinter Arwa Ashar with a time of 11.45 seconds, while China’s Xinyi Yan took bronze in 11.79 seconds.Qatar’s show jumping team also won silver with Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei, Amer Hamad al-Mansouri, Mohammed Issa al-Bukhari and Abdulaziz Saud Fakhro delivering an impressive performance to finish second behind Jordan. Saudi Arabia claimed the bronze medal in the team event.Qatar’s overall medal count at the Games now stands at three: one gold and two silver, following Idris Abubaker’s victory in the 110-meter hurdles on Thursday.In beach volleyball, the Qatari duo of Ahmed Ziad and Musa Al-Khair lost to Indonesia in a tightly contested match, 15-21, 21-18, 10-15. Despite the loss, they advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face Kazakhstan.In golf, Qatar remained in 12th place in the team standings after the second day, while Daniel Sokolov dropped to 22nd individually and Camille Ben Rokia is in 38th place.Meanwhile, the youth volleyball team was eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 0-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei. Qatar is participating in 16 sports at the Games with a delegation of 67 athletes. The disciplines include athletics, badminton, basketball (3x3), equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. Female athletes are competing in athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.

HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), on Wednesday attended the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, currently being held in Bahrain until October 31.Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifah, Representative of the King of Bahrain for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, officially declared the Games open during a grand ceremony held at the Exhibition World Bahrain, in the presence of presidents of Asian National Olympic Committees and senior sports officials from across the continent. Also in attendance were Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari, Second Vice-President of the QOC, and Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, Secretary-General of the QOC.The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular show that included various segments and artistic performances blending modernity with the rich heritage of Bahrain. It also featured the parade of participating nations, official speeches by the Organising Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and the raising of the Games’ flag.The 3rd Asian Youth Games features 26 sports, with more than 5,000 athletes from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, making it the largest edition in the event’s history. The Games also serve as qualifiers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.The state of Qatar is represented by 67 athletes competing in 16 sports, namely: athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. Female athletes are participating in four of these sports: athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball.On the other hand, Qatar’s youth volleyball team lost to Chinese Taipei on Wednesday in straight sets (0–3), with set scores of 17–25, 17–25, and 16–25.Qatar’s athletes will begin competition Thursday in 3x3 basketball, athletics, golf, boxing, equestrian, and triathlon.Team Qatar aims to make a strong impression at the Games and compete for medals across several sports. This participation is also part of the nation’s long-term preparation for the Doha 2030 Asian Games.

Qatari national team runner Idris Abubaker affirmed the national team's readiness to deliver strong performances and bring pride to Qatari athletics at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, to be held in Bahrain from Oct. 22 to 31.Abubaker, who recently won a medal in the 110m hurdles at the West Asian Athletic Championships in Lebanon earlier this month, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the national team athletes are determined to secure the largest possible number of medals for Qatar at the Games, reaffirming the continued excellence of Qatari athletics at the continental level in the youth category.He added that all members of the national team possess high technical capabilities and a strong sense of confidence in winning medals, especially after their complete dominance at the West Asian Youth Athletics Championships, where Qatar ranked first with 23 medals.The 18-year-old runner explained that another key objective for the team is to improve their personal records and qualify for the World Youth Championships, stressing that reaching the global stage with strong performances is no less valuable than winning medals.Abubaker expressed full confidence in his and his teammates' ability to achieve both goals, noting that they enjoy significant support from Qatar Athletics Federation and the technical staff, and they are determined to make every effort to bring further honor to Qatari athletics.He explained that the current generation of the Qatari athletes possesses great determination, a competitive spirit, and confidence in facing challenges, which continues to drive their success in both field and track events. He added that their historic first-place finish at the West Asian Athletic Championships will motivate them to achieve more success at the Asian Youth Games, paving the way toward the 2025 World Youth Championships.A total of 45 countries will participate in the Asian Youth Games, which include a wide range of sports, with athletics among the most medal-rich disciplines of the competition.

Qatar volleyball team will participate in the third Asian Youth Games, which will be hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31.The games will feature 24 sports, with more than 5,000 male and female athletes from 45 Asian Olympic Committees competing in 253 events. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games 2026, which will take place in Dakar, Senegal.The team delegation departed for Manama Friday and is headed by Saeed Jumaa Al Hitmi, a member of the Qatar Volleyball Association's Board of Directors, along with team manager Ismail Al Sheeb, and referees Fahad Al Awadi and Abdulrahman Shams.The squad includes Ahmed Taleb, Dhami Al Ruwaili, Ghanem Al Basti, Khaled Abdullah, Tamim Al Awad, Hamad Ibrahim, Mazen Belorosi, Abdullah Al Shaiba, Omar Awamleh, Bader Al Zanari, Abdulrahman Ali, and Nawaf Al Shammari.Qatar is in Group B alongside Iran and China. It will take on China on Sunday, before facing Iran on October 21.The team's participation is within the framework of the Qatar Volleyball Association's expansion strategy and aims to enhance their experience by competing in major international tournaments.The female team is led by coach Lucas Gabriel, and features Hana Al Khater, Marwa Abdulaziz, Fatima Touzri, Tasneem Ali, Lamees Al Salman, Fatima Mahrez, Walden Al Waleed, Bina Ibrahim, Lujain Mahmoud, Dana Saber, Al Mayassa Diab, Aisha Al Alawi, and Maryam Mouhoub.