Africa welcomes the Olympic Movement for the first time, with the beach handball competitions set to start on the sand of Saly on 9 November

The Dakar 2026  Youth Olympic Games are officially under way. A colourful opening ceremony at the 55,000-capacity Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Saturday 31 October marked the start of the first Olympic Games ever staged on the African continent.

More than 1,000 performers took part in the ceremony. Its theme, “The Rise of Sitoé”, told the story of Africa’s past, present and future through three generations of characters: Alkebulan, the mother, representing the past; her son Keb, representing the continent today; and Sitoé, a young girl symbolising the Africa of tomorrow.

Senegalese culture was at the heart of the evening. Around 100 wrestlers performed the traditional wrestlers’ dance, the bakk, alongside the famous lion dance from Senegalese folk theatre. Legendary singer Baaba Maal led a parade paying tribute to Africa’s 54 countries, with 360 dancers forming a map of the continent. Kiné Lam also performed, and social media star Khaby Lame made a guest appearance.

 

Athletes take centre stage

The young athletes were cheered into the stadium in the traditional Parade of Nations. Greece entered first, followed by the Refugee Youth Olympic Team, the first time such a team has taken part in the Youth Olympic Games. Host nation Senegal marched in last to the loudest cheer of the night.

The parade was followed by a demonstration of the 35 disciplines on the programme of Dakar 2026, ending with the Olympic rings and the Dakar 2026 emblem coming together in one choreographed sequence.

“Dare to make friends”

Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, President of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, spoke of Senegal’s pride at hosting the first Olympic event in Africa.

“This ceremony crowns a long road, one that began far from here, in Buenos Aires in 2018. Thank you for believing in Dakar,” he said. “Win, lose, start again, but above all, dare. Dare to make friends. The finest record will not be measured in seconds or medals. It will be the record of the unity you bring to life here.”

IOC President Kirsty Coventry addressed the athletes directly.

“Sport opened so many doors in my life. It gave me confidence to believe in myself and to dream big. And that is what I wish for every single one of you during these Games. So give it everything you’ve got. Be brave. Make new friends. Get to know people from different countries. Cheer each other on. And have fun!," said Coventry

At 19:57 local time, the President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, declared the Games open.

 

The flame is lit

After the Olympic flag was raised and the Youth Olympic Games Oath was taken, two Senegalese athletes, fencer Abdourahmane Marième Sy and judoka Aïcha Diop, lit the Olympic cauldron. The flame left Athens on 10 September and toured all 14 regions of Senegal before reaching Diamniadio.

Beach handball on the Petite Côte

For beach handball, the countdown is almost over. Sixteen teams, eight in the men’s competition and eight in the women’s, will compete for Olympic medals at the Saly Beach West venue, on Senegal’s Petite Côte south of Dakar.

The beach handball competitions start on Monday 9 November and finish with the medal matches on Friday 13 November, the final day of the Games. It is beach handball’s second appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, following its debut at Buenos Aires 2018.

Photo credit: OIS / Will Palmer