The “We Run for Africa” initiative surpassed 43,000 symbolic kilometers thanks to the participation of more than 11,000 young people from across the continent, in a celebration that connects sport with Olympic values. Launched as part of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the initiative aimed to symbolically cover the perimeter of Africa and far exceeded its original target of 30,500 kilometers.
The activity is part of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), with the support of Olympic Solidarity, and invited children and teenagers aged 6 to 16 to take part in sporting, educational and creative experiences. Through running, walking, art workshops, dancing and other community activities, participants contributed to a collective goal that brought the spirit of the Games far beyond Senegal.
“We Run for Africa”: a continent united by Olympic values
The initiative accompanied the Youth Olympic Flame Tour across Senegal, which began on September 12 and passed through all 14 regions of the country. Under the motto “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,”strong> the initiative extended the celebrations to communities across Africa and invited National Olympic Committees and Olympafrica centers to organize activities around the arrival of the flame. Each event added symbolic kilometers to the collective challenge and created opportunities for participation, with sport serving as a tool for connection and learning.
In total, 30 African National Olympic Committees and more than 20 Olympafrica centers joined the initiative, bringing together young people, educators and families around the values of excellence, friendship and respect. The variety of activities allowed each community to find its own way to participate, from physical exercise to cultural and creative expressions. In this way, “We Run for Africa” transformed a symbolic sporting challenge into a shared educational experience, connecting different generations with the spirit of Dakar 2026.
The House of Olympic Values will extend Dakar 2026’s educational legacy
Although the Flame Tour concludes on October 30, educational activities will continue throughout the Games, which will take place from November 1 to 13. During this period, the House of Olympic Values will welcome more than 1,500 young African students and educators for interactive sessions exploring social issues through sport and the principles of Olympism. The venue aims to promote dialogue, learning and innovation, connecting the experience of the Games with the everyday challenges facing younger generations.
The programme will also include the semifinals and final of Le Génie Olympique, a school competition focused on Olympism that will bring together more than 1,200 local students. These activities will mark the continuation of five years of work by the Olympic Values Education Programme in Senegal, during which more than one million students have taken part in initiatives promoting sporting values through the Civic and Sports Olympic Certificate. Through educational resources, teacher training workshops and participatory experiences, the programme seeks to integrate Olympic principles into learning environments and strengthen their impact on communities.
Last related articles
