Africa's first Olympic Games are open, after a night of Senegalese music and wrestling

Diamniadio — The Youth Olympic Games are open. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye declared Dakar 2026 open at 19:57 local time on Saturday at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, starting the first Olympic event ever held in Africa.

The show ran for nearly two hours, with music, dance, light projections and fireworks. Its theme, "The Rise of Sitoé", followed three characters: Alkebulan, a mother who stands for the past; her son Keb, the present; and Sitoé, a young girl, the future.

On the night

• Baaba Maal led a parade honouring Africa's 54 countries, with 360 dancers forming a map of the continent.
• Kiné Lam performed, as did the women's percussion group Les Rosettes, the hip-hop group Daara J, and Dip Doundou Guiss in a duet with Souleymane Faye.
• Wrestlers performed the bakk, the traditional wrestlers' dance.
• Khaby Lame made a guest appearance.

The athletes arrive

Greece entered first, followed by the Refugee Youth Olympic Team, the first such team at a Youth Olympic Games. Senegal, the hosts, came in last.

Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, told the athletes that sport had opened doors for her and given her the confidence to dream big. She urged them to be brave, make friends from other countries and cheer each other on. Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, who heads the organising committee, spoke of Senegal's pride in hosting and encouraged them to dare.

The flame

The flame left Athens on 10 September and toured all 14 regions of Senegal before reaching the stadium. Amadou Dia Ba, Senegal's only Olympic medallist, was among the last to carry it, and two young Senegalese athletes lit the cauldron.

The Games run until 13 November, with about 2,700 athletes taking part across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Sources: International Handball Federation and SenePlus, 31 October 2026.