UpbeatAfrica hosts an Olympic event for the first time: 2,700 young athletes open the Dakar Youth Games
On Saturday evening in Diamniadio, Senegal becomes the first African country ever to host an Olympic sporting event, as the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games open before more than 55,000 spectators and over 700 dancers. About 2,700 young athletes from 205 national Olympic committees will compete across Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly until November 13, in 25 sports and 153 medal events. Dakar 2026 is also the first Youth Olympic Games to reach full gender equality across events, and the first to welcome a Refugee Olympic Team — six Africa-based athletes competing in athletics, judo and taekwondo.
The upbeat factora continent that has given the Olympics so many champions finally gets to host — and its youngest athletes get the home stage.
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