Uganda’s Florence Masembe and Rachid Rochene are among the young refugee athletes preparing to make history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with support from the Game Connect programme and Olympic Movement partners.

The road to Dakar 2026 is taking on a deeper meaning for young athletes preparing to compete at the Youth Olympic Games, following the appointment of Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge as Global Ambassador for the Games.

Alongside his role as mentor to the Refugee Olympic Team, Kipchoge will share his experience with the next generation of athletes as they prepare for a historic edition of the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic sporting event staged on African soil. The Games are scheduled for 31 October to 13 November 2026 in Dakar, Senegal.

For Uganda, this milestone has a special connection through Florence Masembe and Rachid Rochene, two refugee athletes based in the country who have earned places on the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team to compete at a Youth Olympic Games. World Athletics confirmed that Masembe will compete in the women’s 200 metres, while Rochene will contest the men’s 200 metres.

Kipchoge: Beyond the Finish Line

Widely recognised for his achievements in long-distance running, Kipchoge is taking his influence beyond competition by supporting young athletes as they navigate the demands of sport and personal development.

Speaking about mentoring the Refugee Olympic Team, Kipchoge emphasised the importance of values, education and sport in shaping success, highlighting that achievement extends beyond results on the track.

He also described sport as an opportunity for refugee athletes to demonstrate their abilities and claim their place on the international stage.

His involvement comes at a significant moment for the young athletes, whose participation in Dakar represents not only a sporting milestone but also an opportunity to be seen, heard and recognised for their potential.

Through mentorship, the athletes can draw on the experience of an accomplished competitor while preparing for the physical, mental and personal demands of international competition.

Florence Masembe and Rachid Rochene: From Uganda to Dakar

For Florence and Rachid, the journey to Dakar has been built through training, commitment and opportunities created through sport.

Both athletes are part of the Game Connect project, an initiative supported by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and implemented through a consortium led by the AVSI Foundation alongside Right To Play, Youth Sport Uganda, the Uganda Olympic Committee, and UNHCR.

The project works with young people in refugee settlements and host communities in Uganda, using sport for mental health initiative in Uganda that uses structured athletic activities to improve the psychosocial well-being of displaced youth and their host communities

Their selection for the Refugee Olympic Team reflects the importance of creating pathways through which young people can develop their abilities and progress from community-level participation to international competition.

In preparation for Dakar, Florence and Rachid joined fellow members of the Refugee Olympic Team at a training camp focused on athletic preparation, team cohesion and building connections among athletes from different backgrounds.

The camp provided an opportunity for the young athletes to prepare together while developing the relationships and shared purpose that will accompany them into competition.

For the two athletes based in Uganda, Dakar will provide a platform to demonstrate their abilities in the women’s and men’s 200 metres while representing the Refugee Olympic Team and carrying the hopes of the communities that have supported their journeys.

A Historic First for the Refugee Olympic Team

The participation of a Refugee Olympic Team at Dakar 2026 marks a new chapter in the Olympic Movement’s efforts to create opportunities for displaced athletes.

According to the International Olympic Committee, the six-member team includes athletes competing in athletics, judo and taekwondo. The team comprises young athletes hosted by the National Olympic Committees of Uganda and Kenya. IOC Newsroom reports that their participation will bring the message of inclusion and the power of sport to the first Olympic sporting event held on the African continent.

For Uganda, the selection of Florence and Rachid also highlights the contribution of local programmes and partnerships in identifying and supporting emerging talent.

Their journeys demonstrate how structured sporting opportunities can help young people develop confidence, build relationships and pursue ambitions beyond their immediate circumstances.

Game Connect and the Power of Partnership

As a consortium partner in Game Connect, the Uganda Olympic Committee continues to contribute to initiatives that use sport to create opportunities for young people, including those living in refugee communities.

The journey of Florence and Rachid brings this work into focus, linking community-based sport development in Uganda to participation at an international Olympic event.

Their progress also reflects collaboration among the Uganda Olympic Committee, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, AVSI, World Athletics, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya and other partners supporting the Refugee Olympic Team.

Such partnerships help establish pathways through which talent can be identified, nurtured and supported, while promoting the values of inclusion, respect and solidarity.

As Dakar 2026 approaches, the experiences of Florence and Rachid offer a reminder that sporting journeys can extend far beyond competition. They can create opportunities for young people to discover their potential, connect with others and represent communities whose stories deserve to be heard.

Looking Ahead to Dakar 2026

Kipchoge’s role as Global Ambassador and mentor adds another dimension to the preparations for Dakar, placing emphasis on the importance of guidance, values and the responsibility to support the next generation.

For Florence Masembe and Rachid Rochene, the focus now remains on preparing for their events and making the most of the opportunity ahead.

From refugee communities in Uganda to the international stage in Senegal, their journeys reflect the opportunities that can emerge when talent meets sustained support.

As the countdown to Dakar continues, Uganda’s involvement through Game Connect stands as part of a wider collective effort to ensure that young athletes, regardless of their circumstances, have opportunities to participate, develop and pursue their sporting ambitions.

From community sport to the Olympic stage, Florence and Rachid are carrying their dreams towards Dakar 2026 and opening the way for others to believe that their own journeys can take them further.