Samsung Electronics, IOC and Africa's first Youth Olympic Games support the challenge of innovators

Samsung Electronics and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) supported the challenges of young innovators at the 'Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games', the first youth Olympics held in Africa.

Samsung Electronics announced on the 12th that it collaborated with the IOC on the theme of 'Sports and Technology' at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games and jointly operated the 'Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Impact Program'.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, which started in 2010, is a global corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that helps young people develop science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) capabilities to directly solve problems facing the community.

Solve for Tomorrow Global Ambassador students from Türkiye, South Africa, and other countries who participated in this year's program introduced solutions they had developed to solve community problems in Dakar and exchanged ideas with students from various countries.

Ambassadors also participated in a workshop with IOC young leaders from Kenya and Lebanon on the topic of social problems experienced by African youth. After the workshop, the students visited the 'Social Impact of the Olympics Presented by IOC Young Leaders' booth at the Youth Olympic Village and looked at experiential activities in which athletes participated.

In addition, Samsung Electronics and the IOC prepared the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow exhibition at the Dakar Corniche West live site. At the exhibition opening event on the 1st, a panel discussion was held under the theme of ‘Youth at the Center of Global Change.’

Samsung Electronics explained Solve for Tomorrow's goal of helping Senegalese students solve problems through technology and sports, and emphasized that sports and the Olympic spirit are helpful for challenges and cooperation in everyday life.

“The promise we made with the IOC at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is to provide opportunities for youth to discover their potential through technology and sports,” said Jo Si-jeong, head of social contribution and people team leader (Vice President) of Samsung Electronics’ DX division. “That promise is leading to concrete activities in Dakar. Ambassadors who have set out to solve problems in schools and communities are now introducing their solutions to the world.”

James MacLeod, Director of IOC National Olympic Committee (NOC) Relations, Olympic Solidarity, and Olympism 365, said, “The Youth Olympic Games are a place where young people go beyond competition to challenge each other, learn from each other, and experience the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence.” He added, “The meeting between Solve for Tomorrow ambassadors and Dakar youth is a meaningful opportunity to share ideas, learn from each other, and see what can be achieved by combining creativity, technology, and sports.” said.