The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a global call for designers to create the obverse of the medals for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), offering artists and Olympic fans a unique opportunity to leave their mark on the Games and on history. The selected design will be featured on the medals awarded to young athletes who reach the podium in Senegal, celebrating both sporting excellence and the cultural richness of the continent.
The call for submissions runs from 2 September to 7 October 2025, with entries submitted through the official platform on Olympics.com. Designers will be provided with a comprehensive toolkit outlining specifications, rules, and guidelines, ensuring that their concepts are both feasible and aligned with the YOG narrative. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, originality, relevance, feasibility, and the accompanying written description.
Dante Akira Uwai, the winner of the Gangwon 2024 medal design competition, shared how the experience transformed both his career and perspective. “A lot has changed since Gangwon. Many opportunities have opened up to me thanks to the medal design competition, especially for my career. But the most important change was internal, realising the transformative power of both art and sport,” he said.
The jury for Dakar 2026 includes IOC officials, young leaders, past medal designers, reporters, and ambassadors, who will review and rank submissions before making recommendations to the IOC Executive Board. The reverse side of the medal will be developed by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and will integrate Senegalese cultural elements alongside the official YOG emblem, highlighting the country’s rich heritage.
Since the Singapore 2010 YOG, the obverse medal design competition has become a platform for young artists worldwide to contribute to Olympic history. Past winners have come from countries including Slovakia, Romania, Indonesia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Japan, demonstrating the Games’ power to unite diverse cultures through art and sport.
Uwai reflected on his experience: “One thing I thought about constantly was the athlete receiving the medal. What do I want them to feel? What memories should the medal evoke decades later?” He described the moment his design was awarded as “very, very emotional,” underscoring the deep connection between creative expression and sporting achievement.
The Dakar 2026 YOG will be held from 31 October over two weeks across three host sites: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. The Games will bring together the world’s best young athletes, all under 17, offering a platform for talent development while promoting cultural exchange, unity, and sustainability.
With this initiative, the IOC not only celebrates sport but also highlights the transformative potential of design and cultural storytelling. For Senegal and the African continent, the medals of Dakar 2026 will symbolize more than athletic excellence, they will showcase creativity, heritage, and the continent’s growing presence on the global stage.
Read more bout the call and submit your design, here
