Mexican Olympic Committee and Conade resolve funding dispute for Dakar 2026

María José Alcalá, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), and Rommel Pacheco, director of the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade), have moved toward reconciliation following a public dispute over funding for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.

The conflict centered on the availability of resources for the 62 Mexican athletes scheduled to compete. Alcalá had previously raised concerns regarding the lack of clarity in fund transfers, noting that using leftover funds from previous games could be legally interpreted as a misappropriation of resources. While Pacheco indicated that 11 million pesos were available, the timing of the release remained uncertain during the height of the disagreement.

In a recent ceremony to flag the Mexican delegation, both leaders appeared together to support the athletes. Alcalá expressed optimism regarding improved coordination with Conade, stating, “We are working on it.” Pacheco announced that delegation members would receive scholarships and requested that media attention shift away from the administrative dispute to focus on the athletes' performance.