At Dakar 2026, young athletes will compete in different weight categories in judo. To win, they will need to execute a successful throw, hold their opponent down or capitalise on a mistake. The sport will feature at the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
Judo will be one of the disciplines to watch at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The competition will be held individually, across different weight categories, to ensure that opponents of comparable size compete against each other. On the tatami, each judoka will seek to gain the upper hand through a throw or a ground-control technique. The principle remains that of judo, created by Jigoro Kano in Japan in 1882: using technique efficiently to control an opponent.
“To explain judo to someone who doesn’t know it, to someone who has just walked into a dojo, I would say that judo is a combat sport, an Olympic sport and a grappling sport. It teaches an individual self-control, helps develop a certain sense of self-confidence and, really, teaches them how to better control themselves.”Alexandre Diedhiou, Judo Coach – Senegal
Ippon is the decisive score. When it is awarded, the contest ends immediately. Judokas can also score through holds on the ground, while fouls are penalised. If neither fighter gains the advantage by the end of regular time, the Golden Score is used to decide the winner. The contest then continues until one judoka scores or their opponent receives a penalty.
“We are preparing for the Youth Olympic Games by training hard, developing a fighting spirit, and imagining the Senegalese flag and the Senegalese national anthem on the day of the Games.”
Aicha Diop, Judoka – Senegal
In Dakar, the duration of a contest will depend on the round and the category. In the men’s competition, bouts will last four minutes in the qualifying rounds and five minutes in the semi-finals and final. In the women’s competition, bouts will last four minutes at every stage. An Olympic discipline for men since 1964 and for women since 1992, judo is part of the 25-sport competition programme at Dakar 2026. The Games will bring together around 2,700 athletes across 151 events, from 31 October to 13 November.
