Two athletes selected as Team Canada’s Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Flag Bearers
TORONTO (October 27, 2026) – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) named rugby sevens athlete Adam Burnett (Toronto, Ont.) and wushu athlete Miranda Wei (Calgary, Alta.) as Team Canada’s Opening Ceremony flag bearers for the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The Dakar 2026 Opening Ceremony is set for Saturday, October 31, with competition running through to Friday, November 13.
Adam Burnett, touted by Rugby Canada as one of the most promising Canadian rugby athletes of his generation, will play centre when he suits up for Team Canada at the Youth Olympic Games. At just 17 years old, he was invited to join Rugby Canada’s Under-20 Men’s Rugby program this past summer, a rare distinction in the sport that reflects both his elite performance level and his rapid development trajectory. During his time with the Ontario Under-17 Men’s Rugby Program, Burnett was described as a leader, competitor, and player capable of elevating the standard of those around him. Burnett is a straight-A student, balancing his rigorous rugby training with outstanding academic achievement. Known for his coachability, humility and work ethic, he looks forward to representing Canada with pride at the Youth Olympic Games.
“This is unbelievable,” said Burnett, after learning he was selected as one of Team Canada’s flag bearers. “It’s hard to put into words, but it’s what you dream of as a kid. It’s what I dreamed of since forever, just representing Canada at an Olympic level, and now being selected as a flag bearer, it just means everything to me.”
The eight-team men’s rugby sevens tournament at Dakar 2026 will take place November 1-2 at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop. Team Canada will begin the tournament in Pool A alongside South Africa, Germany and hosts Senegal, while Pool B includes Argentina, France, Japan and Uganda. Dakar 2026 marks the first time Canada will compete in men’s rugby at the Youth Olympic Games.
Miranda Wei, who will celebrate her 17th birthday two days before the Opening Ceremony, will compete in the women’s taijiquan combined event at Dakar 2026 where the sport of wushu will make its Youth Olympic Games debut. Wei began practising wushu at four-years-old. Earlier this year, she won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2026 World Taijiquan Championships. She credits the discipline that comes with practising wushu for her resilience and determination in both her athletic and academic endeavours. An aspiring engineer, Wei founded a student-led initiative to support Indigenous communities in Calgary. Using her computer-aided design skills, she works with Indigenous Elders to create laser-cut pieces, with all proceeds going to Indigenous charities. That effort was inspired by the connection she gained to her own heritage through the practice of wushu. The strong integration of Chinese culture led her to think more about the importance of cultural representation and preservation in other communities.
“It’s definitely been a longtime dream of mine that I cannot even fathom to express how grateful I am right now,” said Wei, when learning that she was selected as a Team Canada flag bearer. “Especially because I’ve grown up watching all these Olympic Games and especially watching the Canadian Olympic Team march in the Opening Ceremony, so it’s definitely a dream come true for me.”
Wushu, a Chinese martial art, has not yet been included at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, or previous Youth Olympic Games, but has been featured at the 2022 and 2025 World Games, the 2017 and 2021 Summer World University Games, and every edition of the Asian Games since 1990. The wushu competition at Dakar 2026 will take place November 1-3 at the Dakar Expo Centre.
“Adam and Miranda are excellent young athletes, but it is their leadership, character, and commitment to strengthening their communities that make them ideal choices to lead Team Canada into the Dakar 2026 Opening Ceremony,” said Eric Myles, Chief Sport Officer at the Canadian Olympic Committee. “We’re excited to cheer them and all of Team Canada on as they compete at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, which offer a tremendous development opportunity and exposure to Olympic values for young athletes.”
The Youth Olympic Games are a global multi-sport event that invites elite young athletes aged 14-18 to compete. This year’s edition will feature a fully gender-balanced sporting programme, with more than 2700 athletes competing in 25 sports and 10 engagement sports. Dakar 2026 will be the first YOG to feature a Youth Refugee Olympic Team and the first Olympic sporting event to take place in Africa.
Information on Team Canada Dakar 2026 delegation can be found here. Further information on Team Canada’s Dakar 2026 athletes can be found here.
HOW TO WATCH:
As the official Dakar 2026 broadcaster in Canada, CBC will provide coverage of the Games on cbc.ca/sports, radio-canada.ca/sports and the CBC Gem app. CBC’s Dakar 2026 streaming schedule can be accessed here.
Olympics.com and the Olympics app will also have live-streamed coverage of Dakar 2026.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tara MacBournie
Associate Manager, Sport Communications
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca