Senegal Youth Olympics in Dakar end on high note

The Senegal Summer Youth Olympics concluded on a triumphant note on Friday after a successful two-week event. This marked the inaugural time an African nation hosted an Olympic competition, and African countries collectively secured a record number of medals. The Games were enthusiastically received, with Dakar's streets and beaches bustling with sports enthusiasts. A total of 2,700 young athletes participated in the Games, which comprised 153 medal events across 25 different sports.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry delivered a heartfelt thank-you address on Friday, commending the Senegalese people for their exceptional hosting efforts. Coventry highlighted how the Games demonstrated what can be achieved when an entire country unites behind a shared vision for its youth. She emphasized the profound impact of collective support: "You have shown the world what Senegal and Africa are capable of, and when people come together behind a shared dream, how strong that can make us. You have every reason to be so proud."

During the Games, China emerged as the top gold medalist with 18, followed by Japan's 11 gold medals. Russia secured eight gold medals, marking their debut in hosting an Olympic event under their own flag since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Egypt claimed six gold medals, while Ethiopia and Senegal each earned five.

This was the first time Senegal had ever won an Olympic gold medal, with 136 Senegalese athletes actively competing in the event. The next Summer Youth Olympics is scheduled for 2030, with bids from Chile, Paraguay, and Thailand now in contention.