A first Olympic event on African soil
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games open on Saturday in Senegal, the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent. Until November 13, 2,665 athletes aged 14 to 17 will compete in 153 medal events across 25 sports, at eight venues spread over Dakar, Diamniadio (about 30 km away) and Saly (about 80 km away) on the coast. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday evening in Diamniadio.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, said she hopes visitors will leave with truly positive thoughts about Africa. Senegal has 136 athletes in the Games and more than 6,000 volunteers.
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A heavily indebted host, mixed enthusiasm
The Games open with Senegal heavily in debt and hit by an economic and social crisis. Excitement has gripped Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, but most Senegalese, absorbed by daily hardship, have shown little enthusiasm. Prime minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Mohamed Lô sees a symbol in it: from the start of the Games, he says, Dakar will be the capital of African youth.
Russian athletes return
The IOC lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July. These Games will be the first Olympic competition where Russians can again compete with their colours, flag and anthem if they win, since the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. According to the ROC, 13 Russian athletes will take part, in cycling, judo, equestrian, swimming, skateboarding, artistic gymnastics, taekwondo, wushu and fencing. It is still up to each international federation to decide whether to allow their participation under those conditions.
For the IOC, the Games also highlight Africa’s growing role in the Olympic movement. South Africa, officially bidding for the 2036 Summer Games, could become the first African country to host the Olympics.
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