The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games opened on Saturday, October 31, in Diamniadio, making Senegal the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared the Games open at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, according to the International Olympic Committee.
About 2,700 athletes aged 14 to 17 are expected to compete. Events are taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, with 25 sports on the competition programme. The Games are scheduled to run through November 13.
The event was originally planned for 2022 but was postponed by four years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its opening brings the Youth Olympic Games to Africa for the first time.
Senegal secured its first medal of the competition on November 1, when judoka Matar Diop won bronze in the men’s under-66-kilogram event, the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee reported.
The programme spans three host cities, giving young athletes a chance to compete across Senegal. The opening ceremony was held in Diamniadio, while competitions are also scheduled in Dakar and Saly.
Dana Mcgee