Five days to go: Dakar gears up for the first Youth Olympic Games on African soil
On Saturday Dakar opens the Youth Olympic Games – the first Olympic event ever held in Africa. Thousands of young volunteers are collecting their uniforms, the city is wearing the Games' colours, and organisers speak of a historic moment.
What happened
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games open on 31 October at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio and run until 13 November. Around 2,700 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees are expected, along with some 1,800 technical officials. In total, organisers anticipate almost 29,000 accredited people. Events take place in Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly; the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony is set for 29 October.
The effort is substantial: according to the organising committee, nearly 15,000 security personnel and 6,000 volunteers are deployed, plus more than 10,000 workers from service providers. About one million tickets are available; sports tickets cost 400 to 1,000 CFA francs. Around 50,000 spectators are expected at the opening ceremony.
For residents, the event brings restrictions: a traffic plan with 166 measures closes roads around the venues, the Corniche Ouest will be shut on three days for road races, and residents of regulated zones need an access sticker. The interior minister has asked Senegalese citizens for understanding and patience.
The mood on the ground
At the Kër Ayo Youth Olympic Village in Ouakam, on a former French military base, Le Soleil describes a busy scene: young people carrying bags with the Games logo come and go, queues form at the accreditation and uniform desks, and small groups stand around chatting. The capital has taken on the colours of the event, the paper writes.
Volunteers were selected through an online application and a phone interview and need basic French and English. Two hundred young team leaders completed a seven-day training course with the army in Thiès. Cooks preparing meals for athletes and delegations were also trained at Cheikh Anta Diop University. The reports describe a motivated, energetic atmosphere.
Coordinator Ibrahima Wade told state broadcaster RTS that the Games mark a historic turning point for Africa that goes far beyond sport. He acknowledged restrictions on traffic and access but said the population is gradually getting involved, for example by cleaning up public spaces. The first delegations to arrive were satisfied with their welcome, he said.
Voices from the media
The International Olympic Committee, based in Lausanne, is backing the Games and the opening ceremony – its first Olympic event in Africa.
Sources
This article was rewritten from local-language sources. Every statement about the mood is based on the linked reports.