Sport Climbing will once again feature at the Youth Olympic Games as part of an evolved approach to the sports programme at the premier youth event beginning at Dakar 2026.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that future editions will ‘better fit into the local context’ with a new process establishing a tailored sports competition programme designed for each edition of the YOG.

The decision to amend the sports programme of Dakar 2026 was taken by the IOC Executive Board (EB) who were meeting for three days at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland and means Climbing will once again be part of the programme.

Based on the newly defined principles from the IOC EB, it was decided to maintain the 35 sports – including Sport Climbing, with 25 sports featuring on the competition programme and 10 to be part of the engagement programme. 

IFSC President Marco Scolaris said: “The Youth Olympic Games will always hold a special place in the heart of IFSC as it was our first adventure into the Olympic world in with the SportLab at Youth Olympic Games Nanjing 2014, and with our official debut at Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

“When we first started the IFSC we had some crazy dreams. To be part of Paris 2024 and LA28, the announcement of the LA28 organising committee to recommend Para Climbing to the programme at the Paralympics and our continued participation in the Youth Olympic Games – make our dreams come true.

“The importance of the YOG can already be seen with some of the first competitors from Argentina either Olympians in Tokyo or soon to be Olympians at our second appearance in Paris this summer. It’s a fantastic opportunity for growth, both for us as a sport and for our young athletes.

“Last but not least, climbing in Dakar will give the IFSC – together with the IOC, a great opportunity to showcase the sport in Africa: we expect thousands of young new climbers enjoying our sport both in Senegal and in the whole African continent.”