The 62-athlete Mexican delegation heading to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 was officially flagged off on Thursday at the Centro Nacional de Desarrollo de Talentos Deportivos y Alto Rendimiento (CNAR) in Mexico City, against the backdrop of recent financial tensions between national sports authorities, senderoartesmarciales.com reported.

Flag Bearers Receive National Colors in Mexico City

Judoka Ariadna Chávez and boxer Jorge Luis Nieblas accepted the national flag on behalf of the entire Mexican delegation during the ceremony at the CNAR facility. Mario Delgado Carrillo and CONADE General Director Rommel Pacheco Marrufo led the protocol alongside Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) María José Alcalá. Among the athletes featured in the 62-person roster alongside Chávez is swimmer Daniel Saborío, as detailed by Fox Sports México.

Authorities Set Aside Budget Disputes to Back Athletes

The send-off brought sporting officials together following recent public friction between the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE) and the COM over funding for the trip to Senegal. Milenio reported that CONADE director Rommel Pacheco and COM president María José Alcalá united to urge competitors to focus entirely on their performances. You worry about training, competing, and winning, dare to dream big and go out to give your best, Pacheco told the assembled athletes. Alcalá echoed that sentiment, stating that the competitors travel to Africa full of dreams, hunger for glory, and backed by the joint efforts of both sports bodies and sponsors.

Government Announces Guaranteed Stipends for All Competitors

During the ceremony, Mario Delgado announced that all 62 athletes traveling to Senegal will receive a sports scholarship funded by the federal government under President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. According to Milenio, Delgado stated that every competitor will pack a financial stipend in their travel bag, provided independently of their final results on the podium. Fox Sports México noted that CONADE previously earmarked a residual budget of 20 million pesos from the Central American and Caribbean Games to cover roughly 11 million pesos in required Dakar expenses.

Wushu Makes Historic Debut Alongside Martial Arts Program

Martial arts form a core pillar of Mexico’s competitive entry at Dakar 2026, anchored by established sports like judo and taekwondo on the official medal program. The Games will also feature the historic debut of Wushu as an official Olympic sport in the Taolu forms modality, awarding four medals across combined Changquan and Taijiquan events. Karate-Do joins the lineup within the second tier of disciplines as an invited participatory sport, allowing young practitioners to demonstrate their technique on the international stage.

Athletes and Officials Look Ahead to Senegal Competition

Pole vaulter Carlo Cruz addressed the gathering on behalf of the delegation, thanking CONADE for securing the necessary funding to send the team abroad. The Youth Olympic Games are scheduled to run from October 31 through November 13, marking the first time the multi-sport event takes place on the African continent.