President Paul Kagame Joins African Leaders and Sports Icons in Dakar for Historic Olympic Flame Relay and Opening of 2026 Youth Olympic Games
DAKAR, Senegal — On the eve of the official opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda joined host President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, and other prominent leaders to celebrate a monumental milestone for global sport and the African continent. The festive gathering in Dakar brought together heads of state, athletes, and cultural icons around a single symbol: an empowered African youth preparing to welcome the world.
A Historic First for Africa
Africa, previously the only continent never to have hosted an Olympic event, officially makes history with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Held under the motto “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,” the Games are set to host approximately 2,700 athletes competing across roughly twenty disciplines.
The presence of President Paul Kagame alongside President Bassirou Diomaye Faye highlights continental unity and the shared vision of leveraging sport to inspire the next generation of African youth.
The Journey of the Flame
The opening follows a national relay in which the Olympic Flame traveled over 3,650 kilometers across all 14 regions of Senegal over 47 days after setting off from Athens. Mobilizing around 450 relayers across more than 30 stages, the relay featured an elite final escort including Fatma Samoura, Khaby Lame, Omar Sy, and Modou Lô.
“To carry the flame is to carry a dream, and to pass it on is to pass on its energy,” noted Fatma Samoura, who served as FIFA Secretary General from 2016 to 2023 as the first woman and African in the role.
The Games Begin
The official opening ceremony took place at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, attended by President Paul Kagame, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (COJOJ) President Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, and sports ministers representing all 54 African countries. Together, they inaugurated the first-ever Youth Olympic Games hosted on African soil.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
