Dakar 2026: opening ceremony launches Africa’s first Olympic Games

The first Olympic event ever staged on African soil officially began on Saturday night in Diamniadio, some 30km from Dakar. Until 13 November, 2,655 athletes aged 14 to 17, from 205 delegations, will contest 153 medal events in 25 sports across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. Competition had already started on Friday with baseball5, and on Saturday morning with beach volleyball, table tennis and coastal rowing.

A show built around Senegalese culture

The ceremony, titled “The Flight of Sitoé”, told the continent’s story through three characters: Alkebulan, the mother, for Africa’s past; her son Keb for the present; and Sitoé, a young girl, for the Africa to come. Social media star Khaby Lame, an ambassador of the Games, unveiled a canvas painted live by Senegalese artist Boubou Design.

Senegalese wrestling took centre stage. About a hundred wrestlers performed the bakk, the ritual dance before a bout, among them Modou Lo, Eumeu Sene, Sa Thies and Franc. The Simb, the “false lion” of popular theatre, and several traditional dances completed the picture. On the music side, Kiné Lam, Baaba Maal, Daara J Family, Dip Doundou Guiss and Souleymane Faye followed one another, and Kya Loum sang the national anthem.

According to the organising committee, 1,115 people took part in the show, including 628 dancers recruited from across the country’s regions, in close to 1,500 costumes made in Senegal.

Greece first in the parade, Senegal last

As at every edition, Greece opened the parade of nations. The Refugee Olympic Team, taking part in the Youth Olympics for the first time, came next. Its six athletes were led by Lourance Numukiza, 16, and Rachid Rochene, 17.

Senegal, the host nation, closed the parade. Its two flag bearers, beach wrestler Ndeye Khady Anna Diatta and taekwondo fighter Ibrahima Beye, are both 17. On Monday 26 October, at the flag ceremony at the presidential palace, Diatta had read the athletes’ message to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The Senegalese delegation numbers 136 athletes in 23 sports.

The speeches: youth and hospitality as the thread

Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, president of the organising committee, addressed the athletes in French and Wolof, citing jom (dignity), kersa (respect) and ngor (surpassing oneself). “Here, your opponent is not an enemy. He is the one who helps you become better,” he said.

Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee, stressed what the evening meant for the continent. “I am proud to be an African woman. And I am so proud that our continent is hosting the Olympic Movement for the very first time,” said the former Zimbabwean swimmer, a two-time Olympic champion. She praised the young Senegalese working on the Games, “in the spirit of teranga”, the Wolof word for hospitality.

The arrival of the flame

Lit in Athens on 10 September, the flame travelled through all 14 regions of Senegal before entering the stadium. Amadou Dia Ba, the country’s only Olympic medallist (silver in the 400m hurdles at Seoul 1988), was among the final torchbearers, alongside Saly Sarr, Yves Bourhis, fencer Abdourahmane Marieme Sy and judoka Aicha Diop. The identity of the person who lit the cauldron had not been announced on Saturday night.

According to the IOC, the flame will stay alight until 13 November on the Corniche Ouest, the festival site and road cycling venue.

First medals on Sunday

Ten sports begin on Sunday 1 November, including judo, swimming, rugby sevens and futsal. The first medals of the Games will be awarded from 3pm GMT at the Tour de l’Oeuf complex, with the 200m backstroke finals in swimming, followed by the judo podiums at the Dakar Expo Center.