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Davids and Reed to carry South African flag at Dakar 2026 opening ceremony

Duncan Davids and Bo Reed will lead Team SA into the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium on Saturday as the 2026 Youth Olympics begin on African soil.

By , Editor

· 2 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

Team SA announced beach volleyball player Duncan Davids and equestrian show jumper Bo Reed as flagbearers for the Dakar 2026 opening ceremony. Both are 17 years old and will carry the flag at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.

Key takeaways

  • Duncan Davids and Bo Reed selected as Team SA flagbearers
  • Both athletes are 17 years old
  • Ceremony takes place at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium on Saturday
  • Davids plays beach volleyball; Reed competes in equestrian show jumping
  • Games run from 31 October to 13 November 2026

Team SA’s campaign at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics officially gets under way when Duncan Davids and Bo Reed carry the nation’s flag at Saturday’s opening ceremony in the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium. The two 17-year-olds, from beach volleyball and equestrian show jumping respectively, were announced as flagbearers for the first-ever Olympic event to be held on the African continent. teamsa.co.za reported the selection.

Why it matters

These Youth Olympic Games are historic as the first Olympic event on the African continent. They are the fourth such Youth Olympics, following Singapore (2010), Nanjing (2014) and Buenos Aires (2018).

The Games were initially scheduled for 2022 but were postponed due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Team SA has totalled 15 medals, including six gold, five silvers and four bronzes, in their previous appearances. Team SA is represented by 46 athletes across 15 sports.

The Games run until 13th November.

What happens next

Team SA’s 46 athletes will compete across 15 sports following the opening ceremony parade. The Games run until 13th November.

Reaction

"These Youth Olympic Games are historic for a number of reasons, and to Duncan and Bo in particular, and to Team SA in general, I wish you nothing but special memories and urge you to soak up the occasion.

Stay in the moment when you parade with our flag and cherish these Games," said Sizwe Ndlovu, Team SA chef de mission at Dakar 2026. Ndlovu won gold as part of Team SA’s rowing team at the 2012 London Olympics.

SASCOC’s acting president, Ms Lwandile Simelane, added: "Congratulations to Duncan and Bo. They are shining examples of South Africa’s vibrant youth who are getting their opportunity to lead Team SA into battle at Africa’s first-ever Youth Olympics.

While this is the career highlight of all athletes representing Team SA at these Youth Olympics, many of them will go on and become senior Olympians. "

About the flagbearers

Davids has built up an impressive CV in a short space of time in both indoor and beach volleyball. His beach volleyball experience includes representing Team SA at the Junior Beach Volleyball Development Cup in Senegal, alongside other national and provincial achievements.

He is recognised for his powerful attacking ability and strong blocking at the net, while off the court he is committed to academic excellence and a desire to be the best version of himself and the teams that he represents.

Reed, a Grade 11 learner at Heronbridge College in Fourways, recently returned from a training camp in Egypt. "The training camp taught me so much, both as a rider and as an athlete.

I was incredibly lucky to ride nine different horses, each with their own personalities, quirks and ways.

Learning to adapt my riding to each horse, rather than expecting the horse to adapt to me, is one of the biggest lessons I will use in Dakar," Reed said.

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