Ajido Philippine flag-bearer in Dakar YOG

MANILA, Philippines — Young swimming standout Jamesray Mishael Ajido will be the flag-bearer for a small Philippine contingent in the parade of athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on Oct. 31 in Dakar.

Ajido, 16, and eight other Filipino athletes aged no older than 17 are competing in six of the 25 sports in Dakar 2026, the first time that an Olympic competition is being staged on African soil.

“The YOG are as tough as the Summer Olympics,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will fly to Dakar this week ahead of the Opening Ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio.

An advanced party for Team Philippines headed by chef de mission Rocky Samson – secretary-general of the Philippine Taekwondo Association – took an arduous 29-hour flight over the weekend to Senegal that will be hosting for 14 days close to 3,000 athletes from 203 nations.

Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman are the country’s representatives in the swimming competitions that start on Nov. 1, the same day wushu’s Angel Polo (Women’s Taijiquan combined) also starts her campaign.

Artistic gymnastics unfolds on Nov. 7 with Tchelzy Maayo and Hillarion Palles III campaigning, followed the next day by cycling with Maritanya Krog seeing action in women’s road and individual time trial.

Athletics action starts on Nov. 8 with Team Philippines pinning its hopes on Pi Durden Wangkay (Men’s 200m) and Naomi Marjorie Caesar (Women’s 800m).

The country’s ninth athlete, Jade Justine Justiniane, takes his turn beginning Nov. 8 in windsurfing.

The Philippines has so far won two medals in the YOG – Luis Gabriel Moreno took gold medal in mixed international team event of archery with China’s Li Jiaman in Nanjing and Christian Tio silver in boys’ twin-tip racing of kiteboarding.