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Youth Olympic Games kick off in Dakar

Youth Olympic Games kick off in Dakar

Summary

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games opened in Dakar, Senegal, with a ceremony featuring hundreds of drummers and dancers celebrating Senegalese and African culture. Nearly 3,000 teenage athletes from more than 200 countries are competing in around a dozen sports, as Senegal hosts the first Olympic sporting event on the African continent.

Key Facts

  • The Games began with an opening ceremony on Saturday in Dakar.
  • The ceremony featured hundreds of drummers and dancers.
  • The Games' motto is “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates”.
  • Nearly 3,000 teenagers from more than 200 countries are competing.
  • The competition includes around a dozen sports, including athletics, beach wrestling and five-a-side baseball.
  • This is the first Olympic sporting event held on the African continent.
  • The Games are taking place as Senegal faces an economic crisis and a government crackdown on LGBTQ+ people.
  • Senegal's president has said he wants sport to become an “economic and social engine”.
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