The historic event in Senegal brings together young athletes from around the world for two weeks of competition

The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games have opened in Senegal, marking the first Olympic event ever held on African soil. The inaugural ceremony took place on Saturday at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, near the capital Dakar.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared the Games open on October 31. The event was also attended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Dakar 2026 organizing committee chief Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye.

The ceremony featured traditional African dances, music, light shows, and performances celebrating Senegalese culture. More than 1,100 performers took part, including hundreds of dancers, according to the IOC. The program also included a parade of participating delegations.

Pour l'histoire, pour l'Afrique. Le Sénégal accueille le monde pour les premiers Jeux Olympiques organisés sur le continent africain.…