Dakar:The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games have commenced, marking a significant milestone as the first Olympic sporting event held on African soil. The event is set to feature 2,655 young athletes from 204 national and regional Olympic committees, including the Refugee Olympic Team, competing in a wide range of sports.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Games, which run from October 31 to November 13, include 25 competition sports and 153 medal events, as well as various engagement sports. A notable highlight is the participation of the Refugee Olympic Team, comprising six athletes competing in athletics, judo, and taekwondo.
For the first time, the Youth Olympic Games have achieved full gender parity, with female and male athletes each representing 50 percent of the allocated quota places. The competition program includes 73 events for women, 73 for men, and seven mixed events, aligning with the Olympic Movement's goal of promoting equal opportunities.
Beyond the sports, the Dakar 2026 Games emphasize youth engagement and education. Over one million schoolchildren in Senegal have been reached through the Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif (BOCS) program, surpassing the initial target. The Jeunesse en Jeux initiative has also involved approximately 300,000 young people in Games-related activities.
Additionally, 42 Athlete Role Models are engaging with young athletes through mentoring and educational workshops. The volunteer program, Jambaar26, received 23,000 registrations for 6,000 positions. Moreover, the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy has trained over 300 young professionals from 21 African National Olympic Committees.
The International Olympic Committee has allocated 19.5 million U.S. dollars to Olympic Solidarity's Youth Development programs from 2025 to 2028, supporting 149 initiatives across 53 African NOCs. The Games have made approximately 960,000 tickets available, including 300,000 solidarity tickets for youth and community groups.
The Olympic flame has traveled through all 14 regions of Senegal, with events under the theme 'Pass the Energy.' The Games are hosted across Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. After the event, the Youth Olympic Village will revert to student housing at Amadou Mahtar Mbow University.
The Games are expected to offer 507 hours of broadcast coverage, with a significant increase in live coverage compared to the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Under the motto 'Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates,' the event aims to create lasting opportunities and impacts for a new generation in African sport.