Hockey has been part of the Youth Olympic Games with its Hockey5s format as a competitive medal event since Nanjing in 2014, in 2018 in Buenos Aires and now Hockey5s will take a new role in Dakar 2026.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will feature an immersive programme built around ten engagement sports of which Hockey5s is one, designed to introduce thousands of young people and visitors to the sporting disciplines through workshops and hands-on activities in a fun and accessible environment offering initiation, demonstration, and promotion.

As at each previous edition of the Youth Olympic Games, Athlete Role Models will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with athletes from their sport, providing support and advice around competition and supporting the Focus Days for each sport. FIH is delighted that Darcy Bourne, England is Hockey's Athlete Role Model for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.