Dakar 2026: on D-30, the Olympic flame is preparing to light up Africa
Only 30 days left before the start of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). On October 31, these Games will begin, a great first for the African continent.
Dakar is 30 days away from hosting the first Olympic event in the history of the African continent. Nearly 2,700 young athletes, aged 14 to 18, will set down their suitcases on Téranga soil. They will compete in 25 disciplines, plus ten other entry disciplines. The competitions will take place at eight sites.
Rugby sevens, futsal (qualifications), taekwondo and athletics will take place at the Iba Mar Diop complex.
At the Tour de l’oeuf complex, baseball5, swimming, skateboarding (street), 3×3 basketball and breaking will be held. Road cycling will take place on the Corniche West of Dakar.
Athletes who excel in table tennis, judo and wushu taolu will compete at the Diamniadio Exhibition Center. The same will apply to those who practice artistic gymnastics, boxing and fencing.
The horses will gallop, led by these young athletes, at the Diamniadio Equestrian Center.
Badminton and futsal (finals) will be on the program at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio.
The Abdoulaye Wade stadium will host the archery events, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
The last site, Saly Plage Ouest, will be the arena for water and beach sports: rowing beach sprints, beach volleyball, triathlon, beach wrestling, sailing (windsurfing) and beach handball.
These Games, beyond just the sporting aspect, constitute a historic moment of exchange, discovery, solidarity and expression of the values which make Senegal. It will also be an opportunity for the country to open up more to the world. In a month, these young athletes will gather around the Olympic flame, the emblematic symbol of the Games.
Boubacar DIOP
