Zimbabwean politician, IOC president, former Olympic swimmer
Russia’s athletics federation has filed a new appeal at CAS to overturn World Athletics sanctions that ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from global events. The IOC has allowed Russian competitors in some Olympic qualifiers, sparking debate among federations that have eased restrictions in other sports. The case tests the balance between sport and politics as World Athletics defends its integrity.
The flame for the Youth Olympic Games has left Athens and begun a 3,600-kilometre tour of Senegal. Dignitaries and a crowd in Dakar welcomed the flame, carried by women known as lingeer, as the IOC leader calls the ceremony a proud moment for Africa.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed seven nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics: Qatar, India (Ahmedabad), South Africa, Germany (Munich), Hungary, Turkiye (Istanbul) and South Korea. The IOC has set an Oct. 31 deadline for other entries, will assess feasibility by March 2027 and expects a final host vote in 2029.
The Youth Olympic Games have opened in Dakar, with about 2,700 athletes aged 14-17 competing across 25 sports in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. The event marks Africa’s first Olympic-scale gathering and features a first refugee team; locals confront rising living costs as the games unfold.
The Refugee Olympic Team will compete at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, marking the first refugee team at the Youth Games. Led by a former refugee and track star, Biel, the team aims to inspire others while highlighting Africa's hosting milestone. The story follows athletes who fled conflict, trained in Kenya and Uganda, and now compete in judo, showing resilience and hope.