The Olympic flame has arrived in Senegal ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be staged in Africa.
The flame reached Dakar on Saturday and was carried in a procession by 100 women before a ceremony at the Place du Souvenir Africain. Senegalese basketball great Mame Maty Mbengue lit the ceremonial cauldron.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry, a former Zimbabwean swimmer, attended the event and described the flame’s arrival as a proud moment for the continent.
The flame was lit in Athens on Thursday. From Monday, it is due to begin a 3,600-kilometre tour through all 14 regions of Senegal, with more than 400 Senegalese torchbearers taking part.
Games begin in October
The Youth Olympic Games will run from 31 October to 13 November in Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly.
About 2,700 athletes are expected to compete across 35 sports. The Youth Olympics are for competitors aged between 15 and 18 and combine elite competition with cultural and educational programmes.
Senegal was selected to host the Games as part of the Olympic movement’s effort to bring the event to Africa. Preparations have included work on venues, transport and accommodation across the three host areas.
The torch tour will take the event beyond the host venues before returning to Dakar for the opening ceremony.
