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Cover image: Youth Olympics Games kick off AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui - Sylvain Cherkaoui The 2026 Youth Olympic Games have officially kicked off in Senegal. Crowds gathered for Saturday's opening ceremony, featuring hundreds of drummers and dancers celebrating Senegalese and wider African culture, in keeping with the Games' motto: “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates”. It is the first-ever Olympic sporting event to be held on the African continent, but comes as Senegal faces an economic crisis.
The country's president has said he wants to turn sport into an “economic and social engine”. The Games also come amid a government crackdown on LGBTQ+ people. Nearly 3,000 teenagers from more than 200 countries are competing in around a dozen sports, including athletics, beach wrestling and a five-a-side version of baseball.
Jean-Loup Chappelet, Professor at Lausanne University and Olympics specialist, shares further insights. Russia recruits Africans to fight in Ukraine, families seek answers At least 60 Christians killed in Ethiopia amid rising religious violence Senegal gears up for historic 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar Tanzania: 2025 election violence still traumatises, one year on DR Congo: A centre celebrates the discharge of last Ebola patients Putin seeks to expand ties with African countries at Russia-Africa summit DRC: C64 opposition coalition meets in Rome, calls for inclusive dialogue Niger: Guards accused of 'cruel, inhuman' treatment after 33 die in detention Kenya's female athletes make their mark as Youth Olympic Games approach © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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