In Beijing on Tuesday, a farewell ceremony took place, marking the historic debut of Wushu as an official medal sport at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. This event highlighted a significant milestone in the international development of the traditional Chinese martial art.
The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will begin on October 31st in the capital of Senegal. Wushu competitions are scheduled from November 1st to 3rd at the Dakar Expopark. It is expected that 48 athletes from 47 countries and regions will participate.
Four gold medals will be awarded in the team disciplines of Chuanquan and Taijiquan for both men and women. Preliminary rounds will take place on November 1st and 2nd, with finals held on November 3rd.
Organizers also presented a commemorative scroll that will be delivered to Dakar, where invited athletes will be asked to sign it. Senegalese athlete Woree Ndiaye expressed hope that the games will help introduce Wushu to a wider international audience and promote its cultural values worldwide.
The Secretary General of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), Zhang Yuping, called the inclusion of Wushu in the Youth Olympic Games the culmination of generations of efforts by athletes and supporters. She added that this step reflects the recognition of the sport's value by the International Olympic Committee and is a landmark achievement in its global promotion.
Previously, Wushu participated in the Wushu Tournament in Beijing in 2008, which ran parallel to those Summer Olympics, but at that time it did not have official status as a medal sport. Participation in Dakar 2026 will be the first time athletes compete for medals in Wushu at an official Olympic event.