Senegal to host Youth Games, Africa's first ever Olympics

Signs across the Senegalese capital proclaim "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates" ahead of the Youth Olympic Games, which will mark the continent's first time to hold an Olympic event when they kick off on Saturday. The IOC has called the Dakar YOG an important milestone for the continent and an opportunity to showcase Senegal's cultural richness and Africa's growing role within the Olympics. 

Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee: "I think it's also a little bit of pride in that when you now see people walking around the [Olympic] Village being amazed and absolutely blown away with the level of service and the level of quality of food and the venues,said  I think it just makes you feel even more proud. And that's what I'm most excited about with these games is that we've got people from around the world that maybe had a very different idea about Africa and they're going to leave hopefully with something really positive in mind, and I think that is really important for our continent." 

Over the course of two weeks, some 2,700 athletes aged 17 or younger are expected to compete across 25 sports. Events ranging from athletics to beach wrestling, rugby sevens to breaking will be held across eight venues in three locations. In total, 136 Senegalese athletes will participate.