NOC of Ukraine Held Send-Off Ceremony for the Team Ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

The gala ceremony brought together young athletes, coaches, representatives of sports federations, members of the Olympic preparation team and guests who had come to support the team ahead of this crucial international competition. 

Vadym Guttsait, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and Olympic fencing champion, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He wished the athletes success in their performances, confidence in their own abilities and that they would represent Ukraine with dignity on the international stage.

“Despite all the challenges, our team’s preparations for the Youth Olympic Games have been of the highest standard. We owe this to our Defence Forces, as well as to the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, the coaches, doctors, members of the support staff, sports federations and everyone who contributed to the team’s preparation. The Youth Olympic Games mark the start of a great journey, but they are also a genuine international competition. It’s normal to feel nervous before such an event. Know that we are with you, we are by your side and we support you. Believe in yourselves and represent Ukraine with dignity!”, said Vadym Guttsait.

Oleksii Nikitenko, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, also joined in the congratulations. He highlighted the importance of the Ukrainian team’s participation in international competitions of this calibre, and wished the young athletes confidence in their abilities, successful performances and that they would represent Ukraine with dignity on the world sporting stage.

During the ceremony, guests were shown the official promotional video for the Games and introduced to the line-up of the Ukrainian national team by sport. In Dakar, the Ukrainians will compete in badminton, 3x3 basketball, boxing, breaking, cycling, judo, athletics, swimming, beach wrestling, coastal rowing, artistic gymnastics, wushu, fencing and futsal.

An important part of the ceremony was the presentation of the Olympic preparation team, which will accompany the squad throughout the Games. It is headed by mission chief Anna Ryzhikova — an Olympic bronze medallist in athletics. The team also includes Olympic bronze medallists in handball, Olena Tsygitsya and Olena Yatsenko, as well as specialists responsible for medical support, team organisation, communications and media coverage of the Ukrainian athletes’ performances.

Special guests at the event were Ukrainian Olympians for whom the Youth Olympic Games had once been an important stage in their sporting careers. The chair of the Athletes’ Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Mykhailo Romanchuk, a silver and bronze medallist in swimming at the Tokyo Olympic Games and a champion and silver medallist at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. 

Mykhailo Kokhan, an Olympic bronze medallist in athletics who won gold in the hammer throw at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, and Yulia Levchenko, a silver medallist at the World Athletics Championships and champion of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in the high jump. They spoke about their own experiences of taking part in the Youth Olympic Games and wished the Ukrainian athletes confidence, perseverance and outstanding performances.

The highlight of the ceremony was the handing over of the Ukrainian national flag to the team that will represent the country in Dakar. Mykhailo Kokhan and Yulia Levchenko handed the flag to representatives of the national team — track and field athlete Milania Kokhan and basketball player Maria Gulyamova.

Ahead lie competitions, new friendships and experiences that will help the athletes grow and move towards their Olympic dreams. In Dakar, they will represent Ukraine, its sporting traditions and the future of the Ukrainian Olympic movement!