Africa hosts its first Youth Olympic Games and they are set to open with fanfare in Senegal
Senegal is set to host the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, marking a significant milestone for the continent as it strives for greater prominence in international sporting events. About 2,700 young athletes aged 14 to 17 will participate in the games from November 8 to 13, competing in 153 medal events across 25 sports.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, will feature performances celebrating Senegalese and African culture. French actor Omar Sy, a Senegalese native, and TikTok star Khaby Lame are among the celebrities expected to attend. The games, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will include several debut sports such as Baseball5, Wushu, and coastal rowing beach sprint.
Senegal, a country facing economic challenges and high living costs, sees the Youth Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its sporting prowess and potentially leverage the event for diplomatic and developmental benefits.
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- First Youth Olympic Games in Africa france24.com
