Jump Rope Athletes Invited to Participate in Global UTS Youth Talent Competition

United Through Sports invites the global jump rope community to participate in "The Rise of Teranga: Where Every Talent Belongs."

The International Jump Rope Union (IJRU) is pleased to share an opportunity from United Through Sports (UTS) for young people across the global jump rope community to participate in The Rise of Teranga: Where Every Talent Belongs, a global online youth talent competition launched in celebration of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Launched on 12 August 2026, International Youth Day, the competition provides young people with a global platform to showcase their talents, creativity, and contributions to their communities through sport, culture, creativity, innovation, and community engagement. Inspired by the spirit of Teranga, hospitality, unity, and belonging, the competition seeks to celebrate the diversity of young people and demonstrate how sport and culture can bring communities together.

Top-performing talents will have the opportunity to be showcased on the Olympic Channel, providing young participants with an international platform to share their talents and stories with a global audience.

Entries are open until 18 October 2026.


 
 

Who Can Participate?

The competition is open to young people under the age of 30, with both individual and group submissions welcome.

Talent categories include:

  • Sport & Movement: Freestyle sport, martial arts, traditional wrestling, dance, adaptive sport, parkour, gymnastics, and more

  • Culture & Performance: Music, singing, traditional dance, poetry, spoken word, storytelling, and comedy

  • Creativity: Painting, photography, fashion, design, sculpture, film, and digital art

  • Innovation: Robotics, coding, engineering, inventions, and sustainability initiatives

  • Community: Leadership, volunteering, sign language, mentoring, environmental action, and youth entrepreneurship

Jump rope athletes are encouraged to get creative and showcase their talent as part of the Sport & Movement category.


How to Participate

1. CREATE
Prepare a presentation of your talent between 30 and 90 seconds.

2. RECORD
Record your submission vertically using a phone or other available device. Professional production is not required.

3. UPLOAD
Publish your entry on Instagram through either your personal account or your Federation's account.

4. TAG & SHARE
Use #UTSRising and tag or collaborate with @unitedthroughsports on Instagram.

5. IDENTIFY THE PARTICIPANT
Include the participant's preferred name, surname, talent, and nationality in the caption.


Participants Under 16

For all participants under the age of 16, a Parent/Guardian Consent Form must be completed before participation can be accepted.

The form must be completed by a parent or legal guardian, with a separate form required for each participant under 16. The form must be completed before the participant's entry is submitted.

No participant under the age of 16 should be submitted without a completed Parent/Guardian Consent Form.


Recognition & Awards

Every participant will receive an official UTS Certificate of Participation, and each competition category will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals.

Additional recognition will include:

  • Teranga Spirit Award: Celebrating unity and inclusion

  • Youth Inspiration Award: Inspiring others through talent

  • Creative Vision Award: Outstanding creativity

  • Culture in Motion Award: Bringing culture to life

  • Community Impact Award: Creating positive change

  • People's Choice Award: Voted by the community

  • Future Leader Award: Leading with purpose

Outstanding submissions may also be selected for the UTS Featured Gallery, national and regional spotlights, and further opportunities for recognition connected to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.


Learn More & Enter

For complete competition information, participation instructions, and the Parent/Guardian Consent Form, please visit United Through Sports through the links below.


Questions & Additional Information

The Rise of Teranga is organized and administered by United Through Sports (UTS), not IJRU, and has not gone through the IJRU Event Approval Process (EAP). IJRU is sharing this opportunity with the global jump rope community but is not responsible for the organization or administration of the competition. All questions regarding eligibility, submissions, consent requirements, judging, awards, or other competition matters should be directed to United Through Sports.

 
Katie Hostetler