International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry experienced the unique atmosphere of beach handball at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Monday (9 November), visiting the competition venue at Saly Beach West, where young athletes from around the world are competing for Olympic medals.

For Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion and the first woman and first African to lead the IOC, the visit offered an opportunity to discover a different side of handball. 

Having previously watched the traditional indoor version of the sport, the IOC President was impressed by the athleticism, fair play and atmosphere that make beach handball such a distinctive spectacle.

“We’re here in Saly at the beach handball having a lot of fun.It's so cool. The Senegalese people are out, there's lots of flags everywhere. We had one of the fans getting up and leading a whole bunch of cheering. It’s the look and the feel of the stadium that you're in and the arena, and then it's the magic of the Games,” said the President, after spending time watching the Cook Islands v Tunisia (men), Uruguay v Kenya (women) and Senegal v France (women).

“Everyone comes out to shout, have fun and cheer. It's awesome because you see so many different flags, but everyone's cheering for both teams. That's the specialness and uniqueness of the Games.

“It looks like the athletes are having a good time,” she added. “I just met the Cook Islands boys and they were super happy. It’s great to be here, great to see the speed, agility and the fun happening on the sand but also up in the stands.”

Dakar 2026 marks a historic moment for the Olympic Movement, as the first Olympic sporting event ever held on African soil. With around 2,700 young athletes representing National Olympic Committees from across the world, the Youth Olympic Games place particular emphasis on bringing people together through sport, cultural exchange and shared experiences.

Beach handball, which made its Youth Olympic Games debut at Buenos Aires 2018, is once again part of the competition programme, with 16 teams - eight in the men's tournament and eight in the women's - and a total of 160 athletes competing.

And the IOC President had a special message to the beach handball athletes, particularly in the context of gender equality and the opportunities offered by the Games, encouraging them to look beyond the results and appreciate the experience of being part of an international sporting community.

“I hope you're having fun, you're learning, meeting new people, and that you're engaging. It's not all just about competition. Take a moment to understand where you are and appreciate that,” she said.

Acknowledging that not everyone can be victorious, the IOC President reminded the athletes that their Youth Olympic Games experience offers much more than the chance to win a medal.

“I know some of you will be disappointed, but that's okay. That's part of sport,” she said. “Focus on the really good things you have going on. You have all your teammates around you, you're getting to meet new people from around the world, and that's just going to make you a better athlete and help the sport grow more and more popular.”

Beach Handball at Dakar 2026

Beach handball takes centre stage at Saly Beach West from 9 to 13 November. The eight men's and eight women's teams participating represent all six IHF continental confederations, bringing together athletes from across the global handball family. 

The preliminary round takes place on 9 and 10 November, followed by the quarter-finals on 11 November and the semi-finals on 12 November. The competition will reach its climax on 13 November, with the bronze-medal matches and finals deciding the Youth Olympic champions in Dakar.

For more information on how to follow the beach handball competitions at Dakar 2026, visit HERE.