History has been made in Dakar. On October 31, Senegal officially opened the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, becoming the first African country to host an Olympic event.

The opening ceremony celebrated Senegalese culture, with more than 1,100 performers taking part. Nearly 3,000 young athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team are expected to compete across 25 sports until November 13.

Since the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, the global sporting event has travelled across Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Asia, but never to Africa. The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games changes that, marking a significant milestone for the continent’s sporting history.

The Games were originally scheduled for 2022 but were postponed to 2026 following the COVID-19 pandemic. Their arrival in Senegal has also renewed conversations about the cost of hosting a major international sporting event. With the country navigating economic challenges and a cost-of-living crisis, questions have emerged about whether the investment will deliver lasting benefits for local communities.

Among those taking part in the build-up to the Games was Senegalese influencer and TikTok star Khaby Lame, who carried the Youth Olympic Flame on October 30, the eve of the opening ceremony.