Senegal kicks off Youth Games, Africa’s first ever Olympics

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games are opening in Dakar, Senegal, marking the first time an Olympic event has been held on the African continent. The games feature approximately 2,665 young athletes, aged 14 to 17, competing across 25 sports and 153 medal events. The competition includes a refugee team and marks the return of Russian athletes to the Olympics.

Events will take place across eight venues in three locations: Dakar, the suburb of Diamniadio, and the beach town of Saly. Scheduled competitions range from athletics and breaking to beach wrestling and rugby sevens. According to Malay Mail, an opening ceremony will be held in Diamniadio.

The Games include 136 Senegalese athletes and are supported by approximately 6,000 volunteers from Senegal. During a press conference in Dakar, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry expressed hope that participants from around the world will leave with a positive impression of Africa.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, Winnipeg Free Press — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.