Humphrey Kayange on How Lessons From Elite Kenya 7s Career Will Help Him Create 'Legendary' Dakar Youth Olympics

Humphrey Kayange, the chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games, believes Dakar 2026 will be a landmark event for Senegal and leave the entire African continent filled with pride.

Throughout his storied rugby career, Humphrey Kayange celebrated numerous milestones. He reached a Sevens World Cup semi-final, earned a nomination for world player of the year, and was later inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Now, nearly a decade after retiring from the Kenya Sevens team, he is on the verge of another defining achievement.

The former captain is spearheading an initiative he believes has the power to transform the perception of sport in Africa. Kayange is now the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), a role he describes as a "massive project" and a significant undertaking.

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“I look at my journey as a captain. Then I look at my recent appointment as Chair of the Coordination Commission. It's all different scenarios, different situations, but it calls on the same sort of lessons we got on the rugby pitch in terms of preparations," Kayange told Olympics.com in a recent interview. He succeeded Kirsty Coventry five months ago, following her election as an IOC Vice-President.

“How do you work under pressure? How do you adapt? How do you bring teams and people together?” he asked, drawing parallels between the principles of elite sport and the high-performance mentality required to execute the projects for Dakar 2026.

Kayange sees a similar opportunity for growth and inspiration as he witnessed with his own national team. “When you look at Kenya back in 2004, we were not a rugby country; rugby is not one of our biggest sports. But look at how far we came with the rugby journey and how inspiring it was,” he explained.

“With this commission, it’s the first time an Olympic event is hosted in Africa. It's a huge opportunity,” he continued. “There will be challenges... but therein lies the opportunity to deliver a fantastic event, not only for Senegal, but for Africa and the young athletes that will be at the Games.”

Leadership is familiar territory for Kayange. The former Kenya Sevens captain, who played a key role in lobbying for rugby's return to the Olympics, often reflects on his playing days for guidance.

“A lot of people talk about 2016 and Kenya’s Cup win in Singapore," he recalled. "That is a fond memory I have. But I go back to 2009... We had a semi-final appearance in 2009 in Dubai at the World Cup. We had the semi-finals appearance in Russia at the [2013] World Cup. Not only that, but we beat New Zealand for the first time, and beat Fiji. So, for me, 2009 was really an amazing year.”

Now, he channels that experience into leading conversations around a pivotal moment for African sport, as the continent prepares to host its first-ever Olympic event.

“It is exciting,” said Kayange, who retired from international rugby in 2018 after a 12-year career. “It will leave a legacy that will outlive many years in terms of a flagship event.”

“It’s exciting to see how everyone is just pulling their weight to get stuff done. But personally, what’s important is how do we inspire this next generation? What legacy or what impact do we have for them so that along their journey in sport, they're able to experience and remember that the first time was in Senegal?

"Many years later, when they're in Brisbane or wherever, they can look back and see how Dakar 2026 shaped their careers.”

Rugby sevens will once again be part of the Youth Olympics, providing a proven platform for developing young talent both on and off the field. It is one of 25 competition sports, alongside 10 engagement sports, planned for Dakar 2026.

While Kayange will have his hands full overseeing the entire event, he admits he will be keeping a close eye on the rugby pitch, especially after the sport's success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“Paris was amazing,” he noted.

Humphrey Kayange, a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission, has highlighted the significant impact of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on the careers of aspiring young athletes.

"We looked way back in 2009 when we were talking about bringing these crowds to the Olympic movement, and just seeing how rugby showcased itself was amazing," Kayange recalled.

The YOG serves as a vital platform for the world's top athletes aged 14-17, many of whom harbor ambitions of competing at a future Olympic Games.

Kayange, who is also a research scientist, shared his experiences with former participants. "I have met athletes who have been to a Youth Olympic Games and heard amazing stories about how their journeys began and how amazing their first experience was," he said.

"This is a great chance for young athletes, and it's a motivation to think about what you want to do to help them on their journey."