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Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics begin in Senegal

The Youth Olympic Games have officially started in Dakar, Senegal.

By , Sports writer

· 3 min read

A Olympic stadium, general view
Olympic stadium (general file photo, not from this event) Photo: Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have begun with an opening ceremony at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium. India has sent a 17-member contingent to the first Olympic event held in Africa.

Key takeaways

  • The Youth Olympic Games officially started in Dakar, Senegal
  • The opening ceremony took place at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium
  • The cauldron was lit by Abdourahmane Marieme Sy and Aicha Diop
  • India sent a 17-member contingent to the Games
  • Dhinidhi Desinghu and Dev Ruparelia were India's flagbearers

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have officially begun in Dakar, Senegal, BBC Newsround reported. The opening ceremony took place at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium before an audience of tens of thousands. Revsportz said the ceremony began at 11:55 PM IST, making this the first Olympic sporting event hosted on African soil.

Opening Ceremony Details

The Youth Olympic Games officially started in style with a huge opening ceremony in Dakar, Senegal. An audience of tens of thousands gathered in the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium to watch the games begin.

Over 1,100 people took part in the show, with drumming, dancing, storytelling, and plenty of parades. With the Olympic cauldron now lit, young Olympians aged 14 to 17 will be getting ready for two weeks of sporting competition.

Ceremony Story and Performers

The story of the ceremony was all about three characters of a mother, son and young girl, who each represent the past, present and future of Africa. Called ‘The Rise of Sitoé’, the ceremony featured many different performances.

This included a wresters’ dance, locally called lamb, which was performed by around 100 real life wrestlers. Hundreds of dancers also took to the stadium, creating a dancing map of Africa and spelling out Dakar.

There was lots of music, with singer Baaba Maal - who you might have heard on the soundtrack to the Marvel film Black Panther - performing at the ceremony, as well as plenty of other Senegalese musical icons.

The world’s biggest TikToker also appeared - Senegalese-born comedian Khaby Lame. With over 163 million followers, he has the most followers on the social media platform.

Cauldron Lighting

The cauldron was lit by Senegalese athletes Abdourahmane Marieme Sy and Aicha Diop - fencing and judo stars - so now the games can begin!

Historic Context

History was made in Senegal almost at the stroke of midnight here in India, as the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games officially got underway at 11:55 PM IST, marking the first-ever Olympic sporting event to be hosted on Africa soil.

Under the motto “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates”, the opening ceremony at the grand Stade Abdoulaye Wade stadium offered a vibrant celebration of sport, culture and the continent’s rich heritage.

The ceremony witnessed the presence of several prominent dignitaries, including Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Kirsty Coventry.

The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, with the stands almost packed as thousands gathered to witness the beginning of a historic sporting spectacle.

Games Scope

The Games will see around 2,700 young athletes, aged between 14 and 17, representing more than 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

With 25 sports and 153 medal events spread across eight venues in Dakar, the competition presents a significant platform for the next generation of sporting talent. For these young athletes, the opportunity goes beyond just medals.

It allows them to represent their countries, carry their stories, showcase their potential on an international stage and eventually move ahead to an even bigger one.

India’s Contingent

India have sent a 17-member contingent for the youth Olympics, with swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu and badminton player Dev Ruparelia getting the opportunity to be country’s flagbearers. The absence of multiple sports has contributed to India’s smallest Youth Olympics contingent.

Opening Day Events

Indian athletes will begin their campaigns across five events on the opening day of competition. Dev Ruparelia will feature in the men’s singles badminton group stage, while Tanvi Patri will take the court in the women’s singles.

In swimming, Tirthank Pegu is scheduled to compete in the men’s 100m butterfly heats, with the final also slated for the day. Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu will represent India in the women’s Changuan combined preliminary round in Wushu.

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