BUDAPEST, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- With Wushu set to make its debut as an official competition sport at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, a new generation of European athletes is emerging.

Europe's first high-level Wushu Taolu training camp brought together more than 40 young athletes in Budapest for four days of intensive training that concluded Sunday. Wushu Taolu is the performance-based discipline of Wushu, combining choreographed routines, martial techniques and athletic movements judged on difficulty, execution and overall quality.

Under the guidance of Chinese expert coaches dispatched by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), participants were introduced to standardized movements and international judging criteria.

Patrick Van Campenhout, president of the European Wushu Federation, said Wushu's inclusion in the Youth Olympic Games reflects years of organizational development led by the IWUF and its continental partners.

"Founded as one of the world's earliest continental Wushu organizations, our goal is to ensure that every country and region has equal opportunities to develop Wushu by training athletes, coaches and referees within the same system and under the same rules," Van Campenhout told Xinhua, adding that Wushu's global growth cannot depend solely on China and Asia.

"Europe's participation is essential. Only through cooperation across continents can Wushu continue to expand its international space," he said.

The Budapest camp has become a key platform for narrowing competitive gaps.

Rong Jun, a member of the IWUF Technical Committee and director of the European federation's referees committee, said both organizations have systematically promoted training programs for referees, coaches and athletes in preparation for the Youth Olympic Games.

"This will help competitions at all levels become more professional, fair and appealing," Rong said.

Hungarian Wushu Federation president Istvan Varga said the camp helped athletes and coaches gain a clearer understanding of competition standards.

On the mat, 14-year-old Hungarian athlete Konrad Vereb repeated his routines under the guidance of Chinese coaches, adjusting his stance, balance and rhythm.

"I've learned a lot here. This is my first time training with Chinese coaches, and they've helped me better understand my movements," said Vereb, who began practicing Wushu at age seven and specializes in Changquan.

"My dream is to compete at the Youth Olympic Games. I know how hard it is for European athletes to qualify, but I will keep going," he added.

Swiss team member Jorg Daniel Aebischer said the experience was productive.

"I love competing internationally. Even if it's only for the Youth Olympics, it's a big step forward for Wushu," said the 16-year-old.

Teammate Diego Negri pointed to technical improvements.

"I learned a lot about the basics, body control, power and muscle coordination. I just want to keep doing Wushu and see how far I can go internationally," he said.

Belgian athlete Maxence Conti described Wushu as a daily passion.

"I first watched Kung Fu Panda and films starring Jet Li and realized that was what I wanted to do," he said. "Now I practice every day. I just want to keep improving, gain confidence and reach a higher level."

Chinese coach Liu Qinghua said she was impressed by the athletes' enthusiasm.

"I didn't expect these kids to love Wushu so much. Many of them started specialized training at a very young age, and their understanding of Wushu is becoming increasingly systematic," Liu said.

Hungarian coach Viktoria Simon called the camp the highest-level Wushu education she has attended.

"The clarity of movement and technical explanation here is exceptional," she said. "I will bring everything I've learned back to my students."

Swiss Wushu Federation president Sami Ben Mahmoud, who served as a Nanquan coach during the camp, emphasized adaptation rather than imitation.

"We may not be able to copy exactly how athletes train in China, but we can learn how to translate those methods into systems that suit European athletes," he said.

The IWUF said it has 162 member associations worldwide, with the number of young practitioners continuing to grow.

"The Youth Olympic Games are not the end. They are just the beginning of Wushu's global development, as well as the growth of Europe's younger generation," Van Campenhout said.