Cyprus announces 17-member delegation for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

The Cyprus Olympic Committee has confirmed its participation in the 4th Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. The Cypriot delegation consists of 17 members, including eight athletes who will compete across six sporting disciplines: swimming, rowing, fencing, athletics, taekwondo, and judo.

The team is headed by George Papageorgiou, a member of the Executive Council of the Cyprus Olympic Committee. The athlete roster includes Andrew Marcus Lagoutis and Maria Kermanou (swimming), Eugenia Maria Polykarpou (rowing), Aris Kagias (fencing), Marina Chatzikosta and Andreas Panteli (athletics), Ioanna Konstantinou (taekwondo), and Vladimiros Charalambous (judo). They are supported by a specialized coaching staff and physiotherapist Panagiota Ioannou. The first group of the delegation departed from Cyprus on Monday, October 26.

This participation marks a significant milestone for Cypriot sports, particularly for the national rowing federation, which highlighted the historic importance of Eugenia Maria Polykarpou's inclusion. The team is supported by various coaching staff members, including Nikolas Stylianou, Charalambos Charalambous, Nikos Polykarpou, Maria Chatziilia, Nikos Nikolaou, Konstantinos Stavrou, and Lauria Lorenz, who will oversee the competitors throughout the event.