Qatar to hold 2026 Youth Games with 338 registered athletes
The three-sport event will run daily from 4 pm to 9 pm, with finals on Nov. 22 at venues in Doha and Lusail.
Qatar will host the 2026 Youth Games from Nov. 18 to 22, the Qatar Olympic Committee said, with 338 young athletes registered.
The event is open to boys and girls aged 12 to 17 and will feature shooting, archery and padel under the slogan "Towards a Sporting Generation and a Promising Future."
The Organizing Committee said 276 boys and 62 girls have signed up, including 95 for 10-metre recurve archery and 177 for the 10-metre air rifle and air pistol events.
Padel will have 33 teams taking part in the competition.
Competitions will be held daily from 4 pm to 9 pm, with finals in shooting, archery and padel on Nov. 22, followed by awards for first- and second-place finishers in each category.
Abdullah Al Athba, Head of the Support Services Committee, said the venues at The Dome in Qatar Foundation and the Lusail Indoor Shooting Range are ready, with staff and volunteers available to assist participants and spectators.
Abdullah Al Abdullah, Head of the Technical Committee, said the officiating framework will be carried out in close coordination with the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association and the Qatar Padel Federation.
Hind Al Ibrahim, Director of the 2026 Youth Games, said outstanding participants may be considered for specialized training and preparation programs that could lead to representing Qatar in future competitions.
She said preparations for the Doha 2030 Asian Games make developing young athletes even more important.
Masoud Al Athba said shooting and archery help young people build discipline, responsibility, concentration and precision.
Najlaa Al Khayareen, Head of the Marketing and Communications Committee, said a promotional campaign that began several weeks ago included an event at Gewan Island where visitors could try padel and archery.
She said the committee will provide media and digital coverage, with results, highlights and photographs posted on official social media platforms during the Games.
The Qatar Olympic Committee oversees the country's participation in the Olympic Movement and its national sports development programs.