Africa prepares for its first Olympic Games event

Senegal is preparing to make sporting history as it hosts the Youth Olympic Games, bringing an Olympic event to African soil for the first time.

The Games officially open on Saturday, 31 October, and run until 13 November, with events taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly. Some competition begins before the opening ceremony, with Baseball5 scheduled to start on Friday, 30 October.

Around 2,700 young athletes are expected to take part in the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games, which combine international competition with cultural and educational activities.

The Games were originally scheduled for 2022 but were postponed to 2026. Their arrival in Senegal marks a significant moment for a continent that has produced generations of Olympic champions but has never hosted the Olympic Games or a Youth Olympic Games.

Competition will be spread across eight venues in the three host areas. Alongside established Olympic sports, the programme includes youth-focused events such as Baseball5, a fast-paced version of baseball and softball played with a rubber ball and no bat.

The Olympic flame arrived in Senegal in September, beginning the final countdown to an event intended to showcase both young sporting talent and the host country’s culture.

Sources: BBC Sport, 26 October; Associated Press, September 2026; International Shooting Sport Federation, August 2026; Dakar 2026 Games overview; Dakar 2026 schedule.