Somewhere right now, a child is practising a backflip in their back garden. Another is writing verses that haven’t found their stage yet. Another is coding something nobody’s asked for but everybody will want. United Through Sports wants to see all of it. As the road to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games heats up, UTS has thrown open a global stage for young talent, and the only ticket in is a phone camera and thirty seconds of nerves.
The Rise of Teranga launched on International Youth Day, August 12th, and the name says everything about what the goal is. Teranga is the Senegalese spirit of hospitality, unity and belonging, the same spirit that will carry through every corner of the Games this year. This isn’t a competition looking for the most polished act in the room. It’s looking for the real thing, wherever it’s hiding.
Anyone under 30 can participate, whether that is solo or as a crew, and the categories are wide open by design: sport and movement, culture and performance, creativity, innovation, community. A freestyle footballer, a traditional dancer, a young inventor, a mentor changing things in their neighbourhood, all of it counts as talent, and all of it goes head to head on the same stage.
The instructions are refreshingly simple. Film 30 to 90 seconds, vertically, on whatever’s in your pocket, no studio required. Post it to Instagram, tag @unitedthroughsports, hashtag it #UTSRising, and drop in a caption with your name, your talent and where you’re from. That’s it. That’s the whole audition.
Anyone entering under 16 needs a parent or guardian consent form completed before the submission goes live, one form per participant, no exceptions. It’s a small piece of paperwork that protects something much bigger. The safety of the youth. And it’s non-negotiable, as youth safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
Entries close 18 October 2026, with winners crowned just before the Games kick off and medals handed out across every category. Every single participant walks away with an official UTS Certificate of Participation, because showing up and having a go deserves recognition on its own. Then there’s the wildcard round: seven special awards, each hunting for a different kind of standout:
- Youth Inspiration Award for inspiring others through talent.
- Creative Vision Award for outstanding creativity.
- Culture in Motion Award for bringing culture to life.
- Teranga Spirit Award for celebrating unity and inclusion.
- Community Impact Award for creating positive change.
- People’s Choice Award, voted by the community.
- Future Leader Award, for leading with purpose.
The very best of the best get put in front of the Olympic Channel’s global audience, which is about as big a spotlight as a 90-second phone clip has ever earned.
It all feeds into the bigger picture UTS is building towards Dakar 2026: making sure young people aren’t just spectators to the Youth Olympic Games but part of the build-up itself, with a chance to show their uniqueness on a global stage. The Rise of Teranga is a megaphone handed to anyone with something to say or show, before the world lands in Senegal.
Entries are open now. Grab your phone, find your thirty seconds, and tag @unitedthroughsports with #UTSRising. Full competition details and the under-16 consent form are on the United Through Sports Instagram page.
