IOC INVITES ZAMBIA'S NCHIMUNYA MWEETWA TO JOIN BELIEVE IN SPORT DELEGATION AT DAKAR 2026 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited Zambia's Nchimunya Mweetwa to join its Believe in Sport delegation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. This invitation builds on his increasing role in teaching athlete integrity at major international sports events.

This new role marks another important step in Mweetwa’s efforts to promote integrity, safeguarding, and clean sport in the Olympic Movement.

Nchimunya Mweetwa pictured serving as IOC Believe in Sport Ambassador at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Reacting to the development, National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) President Alfred Foloko said the invitation reflects the confidence the IOC continues to place in Mweetwa as a Believe in Sport Ambassador.

"We are pleased, as the Olympic Movement in Zambia, to see that our very own Nchimunya Mweetwa is recognised at such a high-level competition to go and represent the nation as an IOC Believe in Sport Ambassador at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. All we can say as NOCZ is to wish him the best, as he will be among others in Dakar during the Games," Foloko said.

And reacting to the invitation, Mweetwa described the appointment as both an honour and a privilege.

"It's an honour and privilege to be invited to be part of the delegation of the Believe in Sport campaign once again. The fact that the event is being held on African soil makes it even more special. My contributions to the campaign being recognised once again gives me joy and an impetus to work even more," he said.

Mweetwa attributed the recognition to the continued support he has received from the National Olympic Committee of Zambia and other key stakeholders.

"This appointment is a result of the continued support from NOCZ and NIF, who believe in safeguarding integrity through capacity building of athletes and their entourage," he added.

His assignment at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games is expected to run from 27 October to 2 November 2026.

Meanwhile, Mweetwa is currently in Maputo, Mozambique, where he is serving as part of the organising committee in the Safeguarding and Integrity Cluster for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games Maputo 2026 Youth Games, which will be held in December.

Mweetwa, who serves as a member of the NOCZ Safe Sport Commission, previously represented the IOC as a Believe in Sport Ambassador at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games before continuing in the same role at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

His latest appointment comes as Zambia intensifies preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where Team Zambia is expected to compete in athletics, badminton, judo and swimming.

The complete Team Zambia squad for the Games will be unveiled in due course.