This Wednesday marked 500 days until the start of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. To commemorate this milestone, the Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee has launched a series of cultural and community initiatives in Senegal, combining sport, art, and youth participation in a unique celebration of global spirit.
As part of the celebrations, the official promotional video for Dakar 2026 was unveiled, a piece that combines emotional narration and poetic imagery to capture the essence of what these Games will be. The video pays tribute to the power of sport, the strength of youth, and the diversity of Africa.
Narrated with emotional depth, the video features a special appearance by Senegalese Olympic medalist Amadou Dia Ba, silver medalist in the 400-meter hurdles at Seoul 1988. It also showcases young athletes from across Senegal and offers a preview of the 35 sports that will be part of the Games program. It also highlights the three host cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
Urban art connects the Games with communities
To bring the Olympic spirit to public spaces, a national graffiti campaign has been launched in Senegal. Ten young artists will create murals in cities such as Dakar, Diamniadio, Saly, Ziguinchor, and Saint-Louis. These works will integrate the Dakar 2026 logo and slogan, “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,” into visual expressions that reflect local identity and pride.
The celebrations will continue on Olympic Day, Friday, with an event in Dakar that will bring together more than 1,000 schoolchildren. The program will include sports demonstrations in 12 disciplines, a group fitness session, and interactive educational spaces dedicated to Olympic values.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be held over two weeks starting on October 31, bringing together the world’s best young athletes under the age of 17. The competitions will take place at three main venues: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, consolidating Senegal as the epicenter of global youth sport.
