President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine Vadym Guttsayt addressed athletes and coaching staff during the official send-off of the national team for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, urging them to maintain maximum composure. The NOC head emphasized the importance of preventing any informational manipulations and avoiding potential provocations by representatives of the aggressor state during international competitions in Senegal.

Protection against informational manipulations

During the meeting with the Olympic team, Vadym Guttsayt focused on the necessity of controlling behavior in the Olympic village and sports venues. He specifically noted the risks of using the communication language for propaganda purposes, calling on delegation members to completely refrain from using the Russian language.

According to the NOC head, any careless statements or communication in Russian can be used by opponents to promote narratives of "one people." The committee leader clearly outlined the position of the Ukrainian delegation, stating the independence and national identity of the athletes.

Composition of the Ukrainian delegation and scale of the tournament

At the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, Ukraine will be represented by 38 athletes, including 11 boys and 27 girls. Ukrainian athletes will compete in 14 sports. The total size of the official Ukrainian delegation will be 77 people, including 22 coaches, medical staff, headquarters members, and judges.

The competitions will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, at sports venues in three Senegalese cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. The large-scale forum will bring together about 2,700 young athletes from around the world to compete for medals in various sports disciplines.

Historical context of Ukraine's performances

Over the years of participation in the Summer Youth Olympic Games, the Ukrainian team has won 74 medals, including 21 gold, 24 silver, and 29 bronze awards. At the previous Summer Games in 2018, the national team won 18 medals, including five gold, seven silver, and six bronze with 36 participants.

The significance of the upcoming competitions goes far beyond sporting achievements, turning into an important platform for demonstrating national agency. The leadership of Ukrainian sports relies on the discipline and high results of the athletes on the world stage.