Kenya Sevens Legend Humphrey Kayange Appointed To Lead Team In Special Olympics
The appointment was made by IOC President Thomas Bach at the request of IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry
Marvin Chege 
Former Kenyan rugby union player, Humphrey Kayange, who is also a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been appointed Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
The appointment was made by IOC President Thomas Bach at the request of IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry on Wednesday, April 30. Coventry stepped down from the position following her election to lead the IOC earlier this year.
Kayange is a distinguished former athlete who represented Kenya in rugby sevens for over a decade, captaining the national team, winning the Singapore Sevens in 2016.
Kenyan rugby legend Humphrey Kayange awarding silver medals to Fiji players at the Paris Olympic Games on July 27, 2024. /TEAM KENYA
His achievements have earned him recognition in the World Rugby Sevens Series. Kayange, a trained biochemist, was first inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2021, joining a distinguished group that included Osea Kolinisau, Huriana Manuel, Cheryl McAfee, Will Carling, and Jim Telfer.
He played a pivotal role in the campaign to reintroduce rugby to the Olympic Games. In 2009, Kayange was one of three representatives—alongside the late Jonah Lomu and Kazakhstan’s Anastasia Khanova—who presented the case to the IOC Congress in Denmark.
Their efforts led to rugby sevens being reinstated at the Olympics, making its return at the Rio 2016 Games after an absence since 1932.
An IOC Member since 2021 and a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Kayange has served on the Dakar 2026 Coordination Commission since 2022.
His broader leadership experience includes roles on the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and positions within national sports governance, including Chair of the Kenyan National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, and board memberships with the Kenya Rugby Union and Kenya Academy of Sports.
In his new role, Kayange will oversee the Commission’s work in supporting the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee.
He will collaborate closely with National Olympic Committees, International Federations, key stakeholders in the Olympic Movement, and local authorities to ensure the successful planning and delivery of the first Olympic event to be hosted on the African continent.
Commenting on his appointment, Kayange said: “My vision is driven by empowering young athletes. I am honoured to serve the Olympic Movement and help provide a platform for young people to pursue excellence.
"Dakar 2026 will unite young athletes from around the world, celebrating African innovation and the Olympic spirit," he remarked.
Kayange is set to chair the upcoming Coordination Commission meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on May 7 and 8, which will also be attended by the IOC President-elect.
The Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 will be held from October 31 for a duration of two weeks. The event will bring together the world’s top athletes aged 17 and under, with competitions taking place across three locations: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
