A total of 870 children—435 boys and 435 girls—from across the country under the age of 16, including a large number from the Isonga-AFD project, have begun a competitive selection process aimed at identifying future representatives for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, set to take place in Dakar, Senegal. The selection trials kicked off on Thursday, June 26, in Nyanza District, gathering both boys and girls to compete across multiple sports disciplines. The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will run from October 31 to November 14 in Dakar. It is the first time the event will be hosted on African soil. Rwanda, a regular participant in the Games, is aiming for stronger representation and better performance than in previous editions, where medal success has remained elusive. To prepare for a more competitive showing, the Ministry of Sports, in partnership with local sports federations, has launched a nationwide initiative to scout young talent with Olympic potential. The participants will compete in seven disciplines namely football, basketball, volleyball, cycling, athletics, taekwondo, and handball. Participants include students from schools engaged in the Isonga-AFD sports development project, as well as young athletes from elite academies such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich’s training centers in Rwanda. Qualified coaches in each discipline are overseeing the selection process, which will unfold over three days. Preliminary rounds are set for June 27, with the finals scheduled for Saturday, June 28. Matches and trials are being held at Igihozo St. Peter, Christ Roi Nyanza, Mater Dei schools, and Nyanza District Stadium.
