Sierra Leone Hailed for Historic Youth Olympic Games Performance in Dakar
Sahid Bangura National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE) President Prince Vandy Sualley has commended Team Sierra Leone for its historic participation and competitive performances at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, describing the achievement as an encouraging development for the country’s sporting future.
Sualley said the performances of the young athletes, alongside the support received from Government and other stakeholders, reflected growing progress in Sierra Leone’s participation in international sporting competitions.
He particularly recognised the beach volleyball team, swimmer Peter Bewie, who established a new national record, and judoka Sheku S. Kargbo, popularly known as “The Lion Heart,” for their determination, courage and competitive displays at the Games.
According to the NOC-SLE President, Team Sierra Leone is gradually transitioning from simply participating in international competitions to becoming increasingly competitive, a development he believes brings the country closer to its ambition of winning medals at major sporting events.
“We are now taking part in these competitions not only to participate, but we are actually competing. When you are at that stage, you are not too far from medals,” Sualley said, expressing optimism that sustained Government investment and support would strengthen Sierra Leone’s prospects of securing medals at future international competitions.
He also acknowledged the Government’s contribution to the national contingent, particularly the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA), for providing the necessary support to the team.
Sualley singled out Ambassador Turay for his exceptional hospitality and assistance to Team Sierra Leone since its arrival in Dakar, describing his involvement as unprecedented in his experience of attending international sporting competitions.
He further commended Minister of Sports James-Teima, whom he described as a trailblazer for his passion for sports development and support for the Olympic movement during his tenure as NOC President.
The NOC-SLE President also encouraged other sporting disciplines within the Olympic movement to draw inspiration from the progress demonstrated by the young athletes, stressing the importance of sustaining the momentum, improving performance standards and strengthening investment in sports development.
He expressed confidence that Sierra Leone could make a stronger impact on the international sporting stage, while calling for continued Government commitment and stakeholder support to consolidate the progress achieved at Dakar 2026.
The performances, he maintained, provide fresh encouragement for Sierra Leone’s pursuit of greater competitiveness and future medal success in international sports.