Senegal Hosts Africa’s First-Ever Olympic Games

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games have opened in Senegal, marking the first time an Olympic event is being hosted on African soil.

The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympics, which began in Dakar on Saturday, has attracted about 2,665 athletes aged between 14 and 17 from across the world.

The competitors will participate in 25 sports and 153 medal events across eight venues in Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly.

The Games will feature athletics, beach wrestling, rugby sevens and breaking, among other sports.

A total of 136 Senegalese athletes are representing the host nation, while about 6,000 local volunteers are supporting the organisation of the event.

Speaking at a press conference in Dakar on Thursday, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry described the competition as an important opportunity to showcase Africa to the world.

Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, expressed hope that visitors would leave the continent with positive impressions of Africa.

The Games also mark the return of Russian athletes to Olympic competition under their national flag and colours following the IOC's decision to effectively lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July.

According to the Russian Olympic Committee, 13 athletes and 10 coaches are participating in the competition, although individual sports federations retain the authority to approve their participation.

A refugee Olympic team, comprising mainly athletes based in Africa, is also competing at the Games.

Despite the historic significance of the event, excitement across Senegal has been relatively subdued, with residents more concerned about the rising cost of living, unemployment and economic hardship.

Senegalese Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo described the event as a symbolic moment for Africa, saying it would place Dakar at the centre of global youth sports.

Senegal is renowned for its sporting culture, particularly football, traditional wrestling and surfing.

The International Olympic Committee has described the Games as a major milestone for Africa and an opportunity to showcase the continent's cultural heritage and growing presence in international sports.

Meanwhile, South Africa could become the first African country to host the Summer Olympic Games, having expressed interest in staging the 2036 edition. The country previously hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup.