Youth Olympic flame arrives in Senegal for historic African first

The Youth Olympic flame has officially arrived in Senegal, marking the start of an extraordinary countdown toward the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

This historic occasion represents the very first time an Olympic sporting event will be held on African soil.

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The flame was lit at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on September 10 before making its long-awaited journey to Senegal.

Its arrival was met with vibrant celebrations, bringing together young athletes, cultural figures and local communities.

The flame’s return to Dakar comes 16 years after the city first welcomed the torch during a global tour ahead of the inaugural 2010 Games in Singapore.

To mark the occasion, a special parade called the “March of the 100 Lingueres” took place.

One hundred Senegalese women from all walks of life- wearing matching, bright orange traditional flowing robes (boubous) escorted the flame to Place du Souvenir, where they lit the celebration cauldron.

President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, highlighted the pride felt across the entire continent, noting that all of Africa is watching Senegal with confidence.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry also expressed her pride as an African woman, emphasising that hosting the Games will show young people that sports can open doors and inspire a new generation to reach their goals.

From September 14 to October 30, the flame will travel through all 14 regions of Senegal under the unifying theme “Pass the Energy”.

Hundreds of torchbearers will carry the flame through major cities, including Thies, Saint-Louis, Kaolack and Ziguinchor.

Alongside the nationwide relay, an initiative named “We Run Africa” is calling on 45 African countries to unite young people in running a collective of 30,500 kilometres- matching the circumference of the continent.

The torch relay will officially finish on October 31 at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, where the main cauldron will be lit during the opening ceremony.

Running through November 13, the Dakar 2026 Games will welcome around 2700 young athletes from around the world to compete and create history together.

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