Lausanne, Switzerland, May 27, 2026: The IOC has announced five more Athlete Role Models for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The five include Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE, equestrian) and Hiroto Ono (JPN, breaking).
Overall, there are now 36 Athlete Role Models, including multiple Olympic champions and medallists.
The Athlete Role Models will be on site in Senegal to provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes during Dakar 2026.
Japanese breaker Hiroto Ono said: “I’d like to share my experiences, including what I felt after competing at the Olympics.
“I want to talk about my journey and what I’ve learned along the way. I also want to communicate the fun and uniqueness of breaking – whether that’s through words or by actually showing it in the moment.
“If I can help energise the atmosphere and lift the athletes’ spirits, I’d love to do that as well.”
During Dakar 2026, the Athlete Role Models will be present across the host zones in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, where they will engage directly with athletes, attend training sessions and participate in educational workshops. These sessions will focus on topics including career development, injury prevention and mental preparation.
In addition to their involvement in formal workshops, the Athlete Role Models will also provide on-the-ground encouragement at competition venues and victory ceremonies, while engaging with local communities throughout the Games.
The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17.