The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president Shadrack Maluki has challenged young athletes taking part in the 2026 ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games in Nairobi to compete fairly, protect their health and uphold the Olympic values of respect, excellence and friendship.
Maluki, who is also chairman of the African Judo Union, told the athletes during the opening ceremony at Kenyatta University that they represented more than themselves, carrying the hopes of their families, teams and countries.
“You are the future of sports, not only in Africa, but globally,” proclaimed Maluki, urging the athletes to dream big and use the Games as a stepping stone towards the Youth Olympic Games.
He strongly warned against cheating, saying athletes who win through unfair means risk losing their achievements.
“Cheating is not a very good way of life. You can win, but you'll be stripped of the win at some point,” he said, urging the youngsters to compete clean and look after their bodies.
Maluki also reminded the athletes that the national flags on their chests represented something bigger than themselves and urged them to compete with pride, excellence and respect while creating lasting friendships.
The message was echoed by the chief guest, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, whose speech was read by the Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi during the ceremony on August 25.
Mvurya noted that the Games represented an important investment in Africa's youth and stressed the Government of Kenya's commitment to identifying talent at grassroots level, providing opportunities for young athletes to develop and exposing them to meaningful competition.
He said competition teaches youngsters how to perform under pressure, work as teams, lead, and handle both victory and disappointment.
Mvurya further described sport as a “school of life”, saying it develops discipline, perseverance, confidence, teamwork, leadership and a sense of responsibility.
He urged athletes to respect their opponents, coaches and officials and abide by the rules, stressing that winning was important, but the manner in which athletes competed mattered just as much.
The ANOCA Zone 5 leadership also hailed the Games as an important platform for developing future champions.
ANOCA Zone 5 president Donald Rukare told the athletes that the Games offered an opportunity to compete with joy and effort, while reminding them that medals were only “icing on the cake”.
He thanked Kenya, NOC-K, government officials, volunteers and organisers for hosting the event and urged the young competitors to make lasting friendships.
The official also pointed to the importance of the athletes who had qualified to represent their countries, telling them to understand the responsibility attached to wearing their national colours.
The Games were similarly described by the leadership of Kenyatta University as much more than a sporting competition.
In his welcome remarks, the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Ouma, noted that the Games represented a celebration of youth, talent, friendship, unity and excellence.
He said young athletes from 11 countries had gathered to compete, learn from one another and demonstrate the potential of Africa's youth.
Ouma added that the Games could produce not only champions, but also ambassadors of friendship, peace and unity across Africa, while providing athletes with a pathway towards the highest levels of international competition.
He noted that Kenyatta University was proud to host the Games in partnership with NOC-K and viewed its involvement as part of its commitment to the holistic development of young people.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that education and sport complemented each other in producing well-rounded individuals and highlighted the infrastructure developed for the Games, including new beach volleyball courts, as part of the event's lasting legacy.
He thanked NOC-K, the International Olympic Committee, the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Sports and Creative Economy, and the university community for supporting the event.
He also challenged the athletes to compete with passion, discipline, respect and integrity, urging them to win with humility and accept defeat with grace.
Maluki told the athletes that early competition was important in developing the discipline required to become champions.
He added that the organisers were deliberately creating opportunities for young athletes and providing them with the tools needed to compete fairly at the global stage.
“You are the champions of tomorrow. Believe in yourselves,” he advised the youngsters.
Maluki urged the athletes to reject cheating and emphasised that competing fairly and healthily was essential to their long-term careers.
The ceremony also featured a call for athletes to uphold the three Olympic values — respect, excellence and friendship — throughout the competition.
Earlier, the athletes led by their representative Isabella Mwangi, pledged to participate in the Games while abiding by the rules and embracing fair play, equality and respect, while rejecting cheating and discrimination.
Others speakers repeatedly reminded the young competitors that the Nairobi Games are about more than medals, with the friendships, lessons, discipline and experience gained expected to remain with them throughout their lives.
With the Games serving as an important preparation platform for the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar later this year, the athletes were urged to seize the opportunity to test themselves against some of the region's best young talent.
The overall message from the opening ceremony was clear: Africa's next generation of champions must combine talent with integrity, discipline, respect and friendship if they are to make an impact on the global sporting stage.
