Senegal is making sporting history as the 2026 Youth Olympic Games begin in Dakar on Saturday, October 31, marking the first time an Olympic event has been hosted in Africa.
Around 2,700 young athletes from across the world will compete in the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, which run until November 13.
The competition brings together athletes aged 14 to 17, with events taking place in Dakar, the nearby city of Diamniadio and the coastal resort of Saly.
According to Africanews, citing Associated Press reporting, the opening ceremony will celebrate Senegalese and African culture through music, dance and performances.
The Games are being held under the motto “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates.”
Dakar Youth Olympic Games mark a historic first
The Dakar Youth Olympic Games represent a major moment for African sport.
Although African athletes have competed at the Olympics for decades, the continent has never previously hosted an Olympic event.
Senegal was originally scheduled to host the Youth Olympics in 2022. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced organisers to postpone the competition until 2026.
The first Summer Youth Olympic Games took place in Singapore in 2010.
Unlike the main Olympic Games, the Youth Olympics focus on teenage athletes and provide an international platform for emerging sporting talent.
The Dakar edition is expected to introduce new audiences to several sporting disciplines.
Senegal prepares major opening ceremony
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to officially open the Games at 6:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.
The ceremony will take place at the stadium in Diamniadio.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and several heads of state are expected to attend.
French actor Omar Sy, who has Senegalese roots, is also expected at the event.
He will be joined by Senegalese-Italian social media personality Khaby Lame.
Both celebrities are ambassadors for the Games.
Hundreds of dancers will participate in performances highlighting Senegal’s cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the official mascot, Ayo, represents a young lion wearing a traditional Fulani hat.
The name Ayo means “joy” in Yoruba, a language spoken in parts of West Africa.
Young athletes to compete in 25 sports
The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will feature 153 medal events across 25 sports.
Traditional Olympic disciplines such as athletics, swimming and basketball will form part of the programme.
However, several sports will make their Youth Olympic debut.
These include Baseball5, a simplified version of baseball played without bats or gloves.
Wushu, a Chinese martial art involving combat and choreographed movements, will also feature.
Another addition is coastal rowing beach sprint, which combines running on the beach with short rowing races.
Beach wrestling will also appear at the Youth Olympics for the first time.
The inclusion reflects Senegal’s strong wrestling tradition, as the sport holds an important place in the country’s sporting culture.
First refugee team joins Youth Olympics
The 2026 Games will also feature the first refugee team to compete at a Youth Olympics.
The team includes six young athletes based in Kenya and Uganda.
They will participate in athletics, judo and taekwondo.
Their participation represents another significant development for the competition.
It also highlights the role of international sport in creating opportunities for young athletes from different backgrounds.
Africa takes centre stage in international sport
Hosting the Youth Olympic Games is an important achievement for Senegal and the wider African continent.
The event places Dakar at the centre of international youth sport for two weeks.
It also gives Senegal an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure, cultural heritage and ability to organise a major international competition.
For thousands of young athletes, the Games offer an opportunity to compete internationally while experiencing African culture.
As the competition begins, Senegal becomes the first African nation to welcome an Olympic event, opening a new chapter in the continent’s sporting history.