Wushu set to make historic Olympic debut at 2026 Dakar Youth Games

A send-off ceremony marking Wushu's historic debut as an official medal sport at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics was held in Beijing on Tuesday, highlighting a major milestone in the international development of the traditional Chinese martial art.

The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympics will open in the capital of Senegal on October 31, with Wushu competitions scheduled for November 1-3 at the Dakar Expo Center. A total of 48 athletes from 47 countries and regions are expected to participate.

Four gold medals will be awarded across men's and women's Changquan combined and Taijiquan combined events. The preliminary rounds are set for November 1-2, followed by the finals on November 3.

Organizers also introduced a commemorative scroll to be taken to Dakar, where participating athletes will be invited to affix their signatures. Senegalese competitor Woreye Ndiaye expressed the hope that the Games will introduce Wushu to a wider international audience and help spread its cultural values around the world.

International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Secretary-General Zhang Yuping described Wushu's inclusion in the Youth Olympics as the culmination of efforts by generations of athletes and supporters. She added that the move reflects recognition of the sport's value by the International Olympic Committee and represents a landmark achievement in its global promotion.

Wushu previously featured at the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament, held alongside that year's Summer Olympics, without official medal status. The sport's inclusion at Dakar 2026 will mark the first time athletes will compete for Wushu medals at an official Olympic event.