Today, Friday 31 October 2025, marks one year to go until the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games gets underway in Senegal.

Featuring beach handball, the event will take place from 31 October to 13 November and is the fourth edition of the summer version of the Games for young athletes.

‘Ayo’ unveiled

And to celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 edition getting underway in just 365 days, the official mascot of the Games has been revealed – ‘Ayo’.

Ayo was debuted to the world at the Grand Théâtre in Dakar in the esteemed company of the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, along with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry; Humphrey Kayange, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026; and Mamadou D. Ndiaye, President of Dakar 2026 and of the Senegalese National Olympic Committee (NOC).

Ayo is a young lion, who symbolises the joy and energy of Senegalese youth. A lion from Africa, for the whole world.

Its name means “joy” in Yoruba – a language widely spoken in West Africa – and reflects the spirit of celebration and unity associated with the Games. The name is considered a unisex name and evokes cheerfulness, happiness and bliss.

Ayo is not just a character; it is the spirit of a generation and wears a traditional ‘Fulani Tingandé’ hat, representing wisdom, dignity and a connection to rural life.

Ayo wears the mane of Africa: vibrant, multicoloured, full of cultures, traditions and promises. Ayo’s smile is that of a young, dynamic continent, ready to welcome the world with a gaze turned towards the future, but anchored in the heritage of its ancestors.

Through Ayo, the whole of Africa is celebrating its first Olympic event, and it is Senegal that is opening
its arms with pride. Ayo is the guardian of the values of the Games: excellence, friendship, respect... but with that extra touch: the warmth of the African heart.

When you see Ayo, remember that true strength comes not from claws, but from smiling, sharing and that contagious joy that can change the world.

Countdown clock and further celebrations planned

Later today (Friday 31 October) at 18.30 local time (19:30 CET), in the heart of the Senegalese capital, Dakar, the unveiling of the official countdown clock, by Worldwide Olympic Partner OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, will take place.

Celebrations will continue into next week with the fourth and final edition of ‘Dakar en Jeux’, the annual cultural and sports festival that has become a central feature of the Dakar 2026 engagement programme. 

Taking place from 4 to 9 November across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, the festival will bring together local communities through sport, music and visual arts while continuing to promote the Olympic values among young people across Senegal.

Within that week (5 to 7 November) Dakar will also host National Olympic Committee (NOC) Open Days, with up to 45 NOCs expected to take part. The two-day programme will include visits to competition and training venues, an overview of Games preparations and opportunities to further strengthen cooperation ahead of Dakar 2026.

Saly Beach will be home to beach handball

Last May, the International Olympic Committee released a map of the venue locations for the Games, with the men’s and women’s beach handball competitions taking place at the 'Saly Beach West' venue. 

The popular seaside and tourist resort is based in the Thiès Region on the ‘Petite Côte’ of Senegal, south of the capital, Dakar and will also feature the sailing (windsurfing), rowing coastal beach sprints, beach volleyball, beach wrestling and triathlon competitions.

To read about the qualification process for beach handball teams to Dakar 2026, visit HERE.

Beach Handball at the Youth Olympic Games

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be held in Dakar, Senegal from 31 October to 13 November 2026.

Dakar will be the fourth edition of the summer YOG, following its debut in Singapore (2010), the second edition in Nanjing, China (2014) and 2018 edition, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Indoor/7-a-side handball featured at the 2010 and 2014 editions, before being replaced by Beach Handball at the 2018 edition, the debut event won by Argentina (women) and Spain (men).

The YOG is a major event which embodies the Olympic spirit, sporting excellence and the promotion of youth.

The event has become a pillar of the Olympic Movement and is more than just sporting competitions;  they are part of an educational and cultural programme aimed at instilling the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence in young people around the world.

The election of Dakar as the host city of the YOG 2026 marks a historic moment for Africa. The decision was taken at the 133rd IOC Session in October 2018, making Dakar the first African city to host the YOG.

Initially planned for 2022, Dakar was postponed to 2026 due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has allowed for better planning of the event and ensured its success.

Photo credit: International Olympic Committee