Olympic Flame Arrives in Senegal for Africa’s First Olympic Event

The Olympic flame arrived in Dakar, Senegal, on September 12, 2026, marking the countdown to the first Olympic sporting event ever to be held on African soil. The event is the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 13 across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

About 2,700 young athletes aged 15–17 are expected to compete in 25 sports, including athletics, swimming, football, boxing, basketball 3x3, rugby, gymnastics, judo and taekwondo.

Africa has hosted major international sporting competitions before, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. But it has never hosted an Olympic event. The International Olympic Committee says the Games are intended to create opportunities for young people across Africa, promote sport and leave a lasting social and economic legacy. The motto says it all: “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.”

Senegal was selected by the IOC in 2018, beating bids from Nigeria, Botswana and Tunisia to host what was originally planned as the 2022 Youth Olympic Games. Senegal’s proposal was attractive partly because it fitted into the country’s broader development plans, with the Games spread across Dakar, the new city of Diamniadio and the coastal resort of Saly. The Games were later postponed from 2022 to 2026 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Games will bring together athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees, making it a truly global event. That includes countries from every continent, with the IOC also prioritising representation from all 54 African National Olympic Committees. A Refugee Olympic Team will also participate. The athletes will be joined by coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators from around the world.

Senegalese basketball legend Mame Maty Mbengue lit the cauldron during the flame’s arrival ceremony, while figures including Senegalese Olympians and Dakar 2026 ambassadors are taking part in the torch relay. Senegalese-born global stars Omar Sy and Khaby Lame are also among the personalities associated with the flame celebrations. From September 14 to October 30, the Olympic flame will travel through all 14 regions of Senegal, covering about 3,600 kilometres. More than 400 torchbearers are expected to participate, including athletes, young people, artists and community figures. The flame will eventually return to Dakar for the opening ceremony on October 31, when it will officially light the Youth Olympic cauldron.

For Senegal, this is more than hosting another sporting competition. For Africa, it is a first. And for thousands of young athletes, Dakar 2026 could be the moment the Olympic story finally begins on African soil.