The Argentine Olympic Committee has officially named a 42-athlete delegation for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, a roster that highlights three rising competitors from Córdoba across rugby, judo, and swimming. The event, scheduled to run from October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Senegal, represents a historic milestone as the first Olympic competition hosted on the African continent, according to the Argentine Olympic Committee (Comité Olímpico Argentino).
Athletes From Córdoba Secure Selection Across Three Sports
The local contingent from Córdoba earned their spots after following qualification pathways established by their respective international governing bodies and continental authorities. Felipe Ledesma has been confirmed for the men’s rugby squad, joining a 12-player roster aiming for the podium. In the combat sports arena, Thiago Nahuel Carvallo will compete in the under-66 kilogram judo division, as noted by the Argentine Olympic Committee. Meanwhile, Thiago Lautaro Pizzini Paz of Bucor will represent the province in the pool, having met the required times to contest the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle events.
Broad National Representation and Team Formations
Across the entire national delegation, Argentina will feature competitors in 16 individual and team sports, spanning athletics, cycling, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, coastal rowing, skateboarding, table tennis, sailing, beach volleyball, and wushu. In team disciplines, the country qualified a 10-player futsal team and a four-player 3×3 basketball squad. The basketball lineup includes Igor Joloidovsky, who plays for Instituto in Córdoba despite being originally from San Luis, alongside teammates Thiago Montes, Ezequiel Román, and Enzo Roth.
A Historic African Debut for the Youth Olympics
The fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games introduces a significant geographical shift for the Olympic Movement, bringing its premier multi-sport event for athletes aged 15 to 18 to Africa for the first time. Competitions, cultural programs, and educational exchanges will take place across three designated host cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. The journey toward the Games officially began with the flame lighting ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on September 10, setting the stage for thousands of young athletes worldwide to gather in Senegal.
Argentine Entities Collaborate on Youth Development
The formation of the Argentine delegation is the result of coordinated efforts among national sports federations, coaches, multidisciplinary staffs, families, the National Secretariat of Tourism, Environment and Sports, the Ente Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo (ENARD), and the Argentine Olympic Committee. These entities work in partnership to support elite youth development and ensure athletes meet international standards before arriving at the competition venues.
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