Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Young Reporters Programme. This unique opportunity, which will coincide with the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, offers 16 emerging sports journalists from different parts of the world the chance to sharpen their reporting skills in a live Olympic environment.

The Young Reporters initiative, established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has become a cornerstone project designed to nurture future leaders in sports journalism. Since its debut at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, the programme has grown into an integral part of each edition of the Games, organised under the supervision of IOC Media Operations.

In every cycle, a select group of aspiring journalists is chosen to participate in a hands-on training course that combines real-world reporting with professional guidance. The experience equips them with practical knowledge required to cover major sporting competitions, including the Olympic Games themselves. Participants benefit from expert mentorship while engaging in workshops that cover diverse aspects of media, such as news writing, photography, live broadcasting, and digital storytelling. The curriculum highlights the essence of human-interest reporting, the pressure of working to strict deadlines, the importance of in-depth research, and the need for accuracy and impartiality in journalism.

For the Dakar 2026 edition, the programme seeks individuals who fall within the age range of 21 to 25 at the time of the Games, meaning those born between 2001 and 2005. Candidates should demonstrate strong command of the English language and either be students of journalism and photography or young professionals already active in these fields.

The IOC provides comprehensive support to ensure that those selected can focus entirely on the training. All major expenses, including round-trip economy flights, meals, shared accommodation, and the full tuition costs for the workshops, will be fully covered. Participants will also receive official uniforms supplied by the IOC as part of their involvement in the programme.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity