Inside the IJF Youth Camp Shaping the Road to Dakar 2026

The IJF Youth Camp at Sport Resort Fiesch in Switzerland is becoming a key stop on the road to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. Also known as the Sergei Judo Camp, it brings young judoka together for far more than hard sessions on the tatami.

With Dakar 2026 getting closer, the camp carries extra weight. The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will be the first Olympic event held on African soil, and this gathering gives athletes a chance to prepare for that moment in a wider sense, not only through training but also through mental and cultural development.

This year’s edition has welcomed 500 cadet and junior athletes from 40 countries for several days of work, exchange and shared experience. Every delegation includes both female and male athletes, reflecting a clear commitment to equal opportunity.

At the centre of the camp is Sergei Aschwanden, the Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist and current President of the Swiss Judo Federation. Under his leadership, alongside an international coaching team, the event has grown into something much bigger than a standard pre-competition camp.

Aschwanden’s message is simple and important: judo is not only about results. The camp is built around judo culture as much as performance, giving young athletes a space to understand the values behind the sport while facing the demands of elite-level preparation.

This camp is building more than match readiness.

The opening session was led by Bruno Tsafack, setting an intense but inspiring tone for the week. From there, participants continue to learn from Olympic medallists, world champions and European champions, with experience passed directly to the next generation.

The structure follows the philosophy of the NATSU programme. That means technical development, intensive randori and competition-focused preparation, all inside an international environment where athletes can learn from people they might otherwise never meet.

That international mix may be one of the camp’s biggest strengths. Young judoka are not only sharpening their judo but also living and training alongside athletes from around the world, building friendships and mutual respect through everyday contact.

For many, that part matters just as much as the physical work. Cultural exchange, shared routines and the simple experience of meeting peers from different backgrounds all connect closely with the values of the Olympic Movement and with judo itself.

The camp’s continued growth is supported by the International Judo Federation and Olympic Solidarity. Their backing helps national federations, including many with athletes aiming for Dakar 2026, take part in an environment designed to open access to top-level preparation.

The road to Dakar 2026 is also a lesson in judo values.

As the countdown continues, the IJF Youth Camp stands out as a reminder that development in judo cannot be measured only in medals. In Fiesch, the focus is also on shaping better competitors, stronger ambassadors for the sport and better young people.

For a generation chasing a place at Dakar 2026, that may be the most important preparation of all.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation