A new project to scout for volunteers for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games has been launched as part of the OVEP initiative.

In October, the Dakar en Jeux festival saw the introduction of the "Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif" certificate, aimed at including and teaching Olympic values to schoolchildren as part of their classes.

Volunteers for the Youth Olympic Games will be identified from those taking part, with schools set to be granted a label.

"Education on the Olympic values is a relevant legacy that young Senegalese have begun to benefit from, and one that will continue beyond the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026," said Cécile Faye, director of the National Olympic Academy of Senegal (ANOS).

"By succeeding in making Senegalese youth live by the fundamental Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect, we will contribute to building a better world."

The OVEP is a series of free and accessible teaching resources created by the IOC.

The main idea behind this was to inculcate Olympism and Olympic values in the curriculum.

In India, more than 32,000 children have benefited from it, leading to increase in attendance and girls in sport.

The IOC claims it will reach around 29 million children once in full swing.  

"With the initial success of the Olympic Values Education Programme in India and Senegal, we can confidently say that we are really looking forward to bringing the Olympic Movement and its transformational values to millions of children around the world," said Angelita Teo, director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, which leads the programme.

"In 2023, a national roll-out for Senegalese schools will begin early in the year, with the aim of reaching 1.5 million schoolchildren by 2026, and in India, another state will join Odisha in incorporating OVEP into its school curriculum.

"There is much to look forward to."

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games is scheduled from October 31 to November 13 2026.