Africa is preparing to make history. In one year's time, from 31 October to 13 November 2026, Dakar will host the first Olympic Games on African soil. It will be the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games, an event that will make Senegal the world epicentre of youth sport.
The Senegalese capital hosted a symbolic ceremony this week at the Grand Théâtre National to mark the start of the countdown. The ceremony, presided over by head of state Bassirou Diomaye Faye, saw the unveiling of the official clock and the Games mascot: Ayo, a young lion who embodies the energy, joy and determination of African youth.
Dakar 2026 will bring together 2,700 athletes from all over the world, competing in 25 official sports and 10 exhibition sports. The programme will combine traditional disciplines with emerging sports such as breaking, baseball 5-a-side and beach wrestling. It will also include the first participation of a team of young refugees from Africa, a sign of the inclusive spirit that inspires the event.
The event will take place in three venues: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. The Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio will be the logistical heart of the event and a symbol of the legacy that Senegal hopes to leave behind after the Games. The local authorities have announced investments in sports infrastructure and training programmes for the country's young professionals.
The organisers have stressed that Dakar 2026 will guarantee full gender equality, with the same number of men's and women's competitions, as well as several mixed events. This full parity will be one of the hallmarks of the African edition, which aims to inspire new generations and project a modern and optimistic image of the continent.
With the slogan “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates”, the Games are more than just a sporting event: they are an opportunity to showcase Senegalese hospitality, strengthen ties between cultures and celebrate the transformative power of sport on the continent where humanity was born.
Source: olympics.com; the-star.co.ke