Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics preparations intensify across Africa

Preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil, are accelerating across the continent. In Sierra Leone, the arrival of the Olympic flame was celebrated at the OlympAfrica Centre in Freetown, involving over 100 children in educational and sporting activities to promote Olympic values.

In Senegal, logistical and human resource planning is underway. The National Office for Vocational Training (ONFP) is partnering with the Organizing Committee to launch the Youth Linguistic Programme, training young Senegalese as junior linguistic operators to assist international delegations. Additionally, the official medals for the games have been unveiled, featuring Senegalese cultural symbols including the lion and the baobab tree.

Regional participation is also taking shape, with the Ghana Olympic Committee announcing a 13-athlete squad. The team will compete in eight sports, including athletics, boxing, judo, and swimming, across the host zones of Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.