IOC Young Leader Oronda to fly Kenyan flag in Dakar

Kilifi-based table tennis coach-cum player Audrey Oronda is among eight global changemakers selected to bring Olympic values to life on African soil at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

With just six months to go until the Games, the Kenyan is set to play a meaningful role in shaping the event’s social impact. The Parkinson’s disease advocate is keen on using her platform to confront stigma.

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As the first-ever Olympic event to be hosted in Africa, Dakar 2026 presents a historic moment for the continent and for Kenya’s growing influence in using sport as a tool for social change.

At the Games, Oronda will work alongside fellow IOC Young Leaders from across Africa, Europe and the Americas to engage directly with young athletes and local communities. Through hands-on, sport-based activities, the group will focus on building confidence, promoting inclusion and strengthening connections among youth.

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Her participation highlights Kenya’s leadership in leveraging sport beyond competition particularly in advancing youth empowerment, education and community development.

Based at the Athlete365 House in the Youth Olympic Village, she will help create interactive experiences where athletes can engage in conversations around well-being, inclusion and life beyond sport. These sessions aim to inspire young athletes to see sport not just as competition, but as a platform for personal growth and societal impact.

Beyond the Games venues, Oronda will also be part of outreach initiatives across Dakar, ensuring that the legacy of the Youth Olympic Games reaches local communities an approach that resonates strongly with Kenya’s own grassroots sports culture.

The IOC Young Leaders programme brings together young innovators who are already using sport to tackle pressing challenges in their communities.

For Kenya, where sport plays a central role in youth engagement and national identity, this initiative reflects a growing shift toward using sport as a driver of social and economic progress.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together young athletes from around the world and showcasing Africa’s potential on the global sporting stage.

Launched in 2016, the programme empowers young people to harness sport as a tool for positive change in their communities. It forms part of the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, which focuses on using sport to advance sustainable development and social impact worldwide.

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