The Olympic Committee (IOC) has postponed the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, originally scheduled for 2022, to 2026.
This follows a discussion between the IOC and hosts Senegal, after which an agreement was reached.
“The IOC and Senegal understand that this news will be disappointing for many young athletes. Both parties can only appeal to their understanding. This agreement results from the large scale of the operational challenges which the IOC, the NOCs and the IFs are facing following the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” the IOC said in a statement.
“With this in mind, the IOC will continue to offer all IFs and NOC Continental Associations the full content of the educational programmes of the Youth Olympic Games.”
Senegal president Macky Sall has been calling for the Games to be postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Dakar's 2022 Youth Olympics postponed until 2026 https://t.co/g9fwngxdnM pic.twitter.com/9KbAAcIjLY
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However, after discussions with IOC President Thomas Bach, it was agreed that deferring the Games was the best.
This comes after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was also postponed as a result of the global health crisis.
The postponement, though, allows the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the international federations (IFs) to better prepare for the competitions.
“This will allow for the objectives of this very important and much-appreciated component of the YOG to be maintained through the many events organised between now and 2026, in particular during the Continental Youth Games,” the IOC added.
