Youth Olympic flame arrives in Senegal ahead of historic Dakar 2026 Games

The Olympic flame has arrived on African soil for the first time in history, marking the official countdown to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

On Saturday, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the flame at a ceremony outside the Presidential Palace in the capital, Dakar. The arrival represents a historic milestone for the Olympic movement, as the games prepare to make their debut on the African continent.

Hundreds of spectators gathered at the Place du Souvenir Africain in Dakar to celebrate with music and dance. During the ceremony, a group of 100 influential Senegalese women known as "Lingere" — a Wolof word meaning queens or royal women — led a rally carrying the flame through the streets.

Mame Maty Mbengue, a legend of Senegalese basketball, lit the Olympic cauldron to mark the occasion.

"This flame tells us that Africa is no longer watching; Africa is welcoming," President Faye told the crowd. He urged the country’s young people to show their energy and hospitality, adding: "Make Senegal proud, and make the whole of Africa proud."

How will the torch relay work?

The Senegalese delegation received the flame on Thursday at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, before transporting it to Dakar.

A nationwide torch relay is scheduled to begin on Monday, covering approximately 3,600 kilometres. More than 400 torchbearers — including local athletes, young talents, and community leaders — will carry the flame through all 14 regions of Senegal before it returns to the capital for the opening ceremony.

Gassiragh Diagne, one of the women who took part in the arrival ceremony, said the event would inspire young people across the continent. "Senegal is just a gateway to introduce a continent that is moving forward and looking towards the future to the world," she said.

What is the schedule for Dakar 2026?

The Dakar Youth Olympic Games will run from 31 October to 13 November, bringing together around 2,700 athletes aged between 15 and 18.

Events will be held across three major hubs:

• Dakar, the capital city.
• Diamniadio, a newly built modern city nearby.
• Saly, a coastal resort town.

There is a minor discrepancy in the scale of the competition, with some official announcements listing 25 sports while other organising details cite 35.

Kirsty Coventry, representing the International Olympic Committee, attended the weekend's events and described the flame's arrival as a proud moment for both Senegal and Africa.