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Senegal Set to Host Africa's First Olympic Event
Prince Jean
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, the upcoming Youth Olympic Games are set to gather the world's elite young athletes in Dakar, Senegal, to compete across 35 sports over a span of 14 days.
Initially planned to coincide with the Dakar 2022 period, the Dakar en Jeux (Dakar in Games) festival has been a recurring annual event in the three host cities of Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. It serves not only as a lead-up to the 2026 games but also as a celebration of sport and culture, aimed at fostering greater youth participation in athletics.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has strongly endorsed Senegal's role as host for the Youth Olympic Games, emphasizing the continent's unity and rich sports culture.
"With a youthful demographic and a deep-rooted passion for sports, the time is ripe for Africa, and particularly for Senegal,"
Bach stated in an Olympics.com report.
During his 2022 visit to Senegal, Bach expressed his eagerness for the upcoming games, remarking,
"We are looking forward to returning here to witness the first Olympic event on African soil—an event by Africa, with Africa, welcoming the world's youth to Senegal."
Reflecting on the significance of the event, sports analyst Rufai Shuaib from Senegal commented,
"Hosting the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar marks a pivotal moment in highlighting the vast capabilities and prospects of our young athletes on an international stage."
