Rugby legend Humphrey Kayange lands another international role

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Kayange has been selected to join its new Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Working Group, part of the IOC’s “Fit For The Future” process aimed at shaping the Olympic Movement for the coming decade.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry recently unveiled four new working groups to focus on critical areas: the Youth Olympic Games, the Olympic programme, protection of the female category, and commercial partnerships and marketing.

 These groups emerged from consultations with IOC members and honorary members earlier this year and are set to begin work immediately. 

The YOG Working Group, chaired by IOC member Danka Hrbeková, will evaluate the relevance and potential of the Youth Olympic Games and oversee the selection process for the 2030 host city.

Kayange’s appointment adds to an illustrious list of international roles. In April, he was named chairperson of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games by outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach, following a request from then President-elect Coventry.

 As chair, Kayange leads the planning and delivery of the first Olympic sporting event ever to be hosted on African soil, working closely with National Olympic Committees, International Federations, and local authorities.

A celebrated former Kenya Sevens captain, Kayange played for the national team, Shujaa, for over a decade, famously leading the side to the historic Singapore Sevens victory in 2016 and representing Kenya at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Since becoming an IOC member and part of its Athletes’ Commission in 2021, he has also served on the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency and held leadership roles in Kenyan sports administration, including Chair of the NOC Athletes’ Commission and board positions with the Kenya Academy of Sports and Kenya Rugby Union.

Kayange’s inclusion in the YOG Working Group underscores his growing influence in shaping global sport and highlights Kenya’s rising stature in international Olympic affairs.