Senegal kicks off Youth Games, Africa's first ever Olympics

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the first Olympics ever to be held on African soil, opened on Saturday in the Senegalese capital marking an historic moment for the continent. Events ranging from athletics to beach wrestling, rugby sevens to breaking, will be held across eight venues in three locations.

A total of 136 Senegalese athletes will participate in the Youth Olympics, with some 6,000 volunteers from Senegal helping put on the event. According to Coventry, the opening ceremony was televised live in more than 30 countries, with every African nation having committed to showing the Games live.