The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a global competition for creatives to design the obverse side of the medals for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The call for submissions began on Tuesday.
Interested designers can submit their work through a dedicated platform on Olympics.com. This platform will provide a toolkit with detailed design specifications, guidelines, and rules to assist participants. The deadline for submissions is October 7, 2025.
Entries will be assessed based on several criteria, including creativity, originality, relevance to the YOG theme, feasibility of production, and the accompanying written description. A diverse jury will review the submissions.
The jury will include prominent figures such as Humphrey Kayange, Chair of the IOC Dakar 2026 Coordination Commission, and Dante Akira Uwai, the medal designer for the Gangwon 2024 Games. Other members include Olympian Artist Annabel Eyres, IOC Young Leaders, IOC Young Reporters, and Dakar 2026 ambassador Elzo Jamdong. The jury will recommend a design to the IOC Executive Board for final approval.
The tradition of involving creatives in medal design began with the Singapore 2010 YOG. The "Yes Youth Can" design was created by Japanese designer Setsuko Fukuzawa. Subsequent editions have showcased designs from young artists around the world.
Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
5 Comments
Habibi
I'm thrilled to see the IOC recognizing the importance of creativity. Can't wait to see the new designs!
Bella Ciao
I'm really looking forward to this! It’s a perfect way to engage youth and make the Games more relatable.
Fuerza
I'm not convinced that a global competition will lead to better designs. It could dilute the essence of the games.
Manolo Noriega
This approach celebrates culture and creativity, aligning perfectly with the spirit of the Youth Olympics!
Ongania
Love that they're involving a diverse jury! This ensures a fair evaluation and highlights various viewpoints.