Under the patronage of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2026, the Youth Festival - Festival Dakar En Jeux showcased kickboxing as part of its vibrant program. This monumental achievement highlights WAKO’s continued strides toward global recognition.

Espen Lund, WAKO 1st Vice President, visited Dakar for the second time, meeting key figures such as:

• Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, NOC President

• Ibrahima Wade, YOG General Coordinator

• Balla Dieye, Sport Director
  

Alongside WAKO Senegal President Yakhya Diop, they attended IOC YOG Coordination meetings, site visits, and exchanged ideas to further integrate kickboxing into Dakar 2026.

The Youth Festival also featured a fantastic outdoor K1 showcase, thrilling the public with high-level fights and shining a spotlight on the world’s greatest combat sport. A special thank you to international delegates from South Africa, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Lithuania, who joined us in making history.

A huge shoutout to WAKO Gold Sponsor RDX for providing exceptional equipment and clothing, ensuring the event’s success.

🤝 Let’s continue to elevate kickboxing on the global stage!

#rdxsports #onewakoonechampion #wako #kickboxing #youtholympics2026