Senegal is putting the finishing touches on preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, with athletes, volunteers, and communities gearing up to welcome the world to the first Olympic event on African soil. The event, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, will bring together an estimated 2,700 young athletes from 206 countries. Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly will host the events.
A torch relay has traveled 3,600 kilometers through Senegal's 14 regions, carrying the Olympic flame and spirit of the Games to communities far from the capital. The relay, which began in Athens on September 10 and arrived in Dakar on September 14, was carried by around 450 torchbearers. This nationwide welcome has turned the Games into a national celebration, with local communities showing their enthusiasm and support.
Senegal's national delegation comprises 136 young athletes, including 69 girls and 67 boys, who will compete in 23 of the 25 sports on the program. The athletes received the national flag from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on October 26. Faye urged them to show discipline, courage, and solidarity as they represent their country.
The Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSS) is working hard to ensure that visitors have an authentic and warm experience, rooted in Téranga, the Senegalese tradition of hospitality. According to Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, president of CNOSS, Senegal will not offer perfect Games, but authentic Games, warm Games. He described sport as "the common language of the world" and added that visitors will be at home, not just guests.
Two African Olympians, Malian basketball player Kady Kanouté Tounkara and South African athlete Khotso Mokoena, are among six Believe in Sport ambassadors who will engage with athletes and their support teams during Dakar 2026. They have called on young competitors to carry the values of integrity and fair play into the Games and beyond.
The organizing committee has identified 25 priority measures to ensure a successful event, including arrangements for accommodation, transport, health, and telecommunications. The Iba Mar Diop Stadium has been completed, and operational tests have been conducted in sports such as athletics, taekwondo, and cycling. Kenyan Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal have been named as ambassadors.
Beyond the competition, Senegal hopes the Games will benefit local communities, stimulate the economy, and encourage more young people to take part in sport. Hosting the Games also marks a historic moment for the continent, with Africa entering Olympic history "through the grandest of doors," according to Ndiaye.
Key points
- The 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will bring together 2,700 young athletes from 206 countries.
- Senegal's national delegation comprises 136 young athletes who will compete in 23 sports.
- The event aims to promote Téranga, the Senegalese tradition of hospitality, and fair play.
