Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge has been appointed a Global Ambassador for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where he will mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe Kenyan distance-running legend will take part in the first Olympic sporting event to be staged on African soil when the Youth Olympic Games are held in Senegal from 31 October to 13 November 2026.Kipchoge, 41, has competed at five Olympic Games, winning four medals, including marathon gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.##NAJAVA_MECA_9995888##He also won bronze and silver in the 5,000 m at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, respectively, before switching his focus to the marathon.At Dakar, he will share his experience from more than two decades at the highest level of athletics while interacting with athletes from around the world.He will also mentor the Refugee Olympic Team, which will make its first appearance at the Youth Olympic Games.“I’ve been in the sport for 24 years; it’s my time to give back to the next generation,” Kipchoge said, as quoted by Olympics.com.“When I go to Dakar, I’ll make sure I meet young athletes from across the world, have an honest talk, mentor them, and look at what the future of sport, and the world, looks like.”Eliud Kipchoge backs refugee athletes ahead of historic Olympics debutThe Kenyan will share the Global Ambassador role with Brazilian skateboarding star Rayssa Leal, a two-time Olympic medallist.Kipchoge has already begun engaging with members of the Refugee Olympic Team, speaking to them about discipline, education, and personal values.“Mentoring the refugee team means a lot to me. I talked to them about the importance of having the right values in your life, your education, and your sport, the real recipe for success, and what success means in sport and in life,” he said.Open Lanes Grand Finale brings university athletics to NyayoDakar 2026 will hold particular significance for Kipchoge and the continent, becoming the first Olympic sporting event staged in Africa.The Games are expected to bring together about 2,700 athletes aged 17 and below across Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.The event will be about more than competition, with the Olympic champion keen to use the platform to encourage young athletes to believe in their potential and learn from one another.“My message to these young people is that this chance is the key. It’s their time to fight for their space, and that space is happening in Dakar,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9993164##