The countdown has begun with an important date to remember: Wednesday 26 February 2025 marks the launch of the competition to name and design the official mascot of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Thousands of middle and high school students will have to show their creativity by designing the first official mascot from the African continent, considering the Olympic values: Excellence, Friendship and Respect.
After Singapore 2010, Innsbruck 2012, Nanjing 2014, Lillehammer 2016, Buenos Aires 2018, Lausanne 2020, and Gangwon 2024, Dakar will be writing the next chapter in the history of the Youth Olympic Games mascot, and this will be a first for Senegal and Africa. The slogan following the launch of this mascot creation competition is "WONEEL SA BOPP" ("SHOW YOUR TALENT"). 26 February is therefore a key date on the road to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) has worked closely with the National Education Ministry to ensure full coverage of the Senegalese territory. The competition will take place in 14 centres across the country. "When we talk about the Youth Olympic Games, we focus mainly on students. Getting them involved with this mascot contest is the best way to integrate them and make the process inclusive. Today, there is an important mobilisation of different training academies and schools who feel that they are real stakeholders in the process," said Moustapha guirassy, who will visit one of the centres on the opening date of the contest. This competition is free and open to all secondary school students, provided that the schools have completed the necessary registration steps. All students taking part in the competition must embrace the basic values of Olympism: Excellence, Friendship and Respect. The name of the official mascot should ideally consist of two syllables, with a maximum of three. It must be easy for everyone to pronounce and have a meaning that is accessible to the widest audience. At the end of the competition on Wednesday 26 February, A jury of celebrities, including Prof. Ibrahima Thioub, cartoonist Odia, artist Kalidou Kasse, former international basketball player Astou Ndiaye and Sophie Zinga Sy, Director of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, will choose the mascot that will represent the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
KEY DATES
26 February 2025: Mascot model and name creation competition
June 2025: Announcement of the winner of the mascot model and name
The various stages of the creation of the name and model for the Dakar 2026 mascot will be shared on our digital platforms and on our website 👇🏻
https://www.olympics.com/fr/dakar-2026/mascotte-officielle/
Jury Composition :
- Jury President: Moustapha Guirassy, Minister of National Education
- Amadou Dia Ba, Olympic Medalist
- Soda Diarra, Director of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts
- Babacar Dieng, Director of Cabinet, representative of the City of Diamniadio
- Boubou DESIGN, Artist
- Fanta Diallo, YOGOC Representative
- Oumar Fall, Representative of the City of Saly
- Abdoulaye Kanouté, YOGOC Representative
- Kalidou Kassé, Artist
- Pr. Ramatoulaye Diagne Mbengue, Professor/Sociologist
- Elimane Mbengue, Representative of the City of Dakar
- Odia, Cartoonist
- Mamadou Sène, Advisor, Representative of the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Youth
- Moe Sow, Artistic Director
- Sophie Zinga Sy, Director of the Agency for the Promotion and Development of Handicrafts, Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts
- Pr. Ibrahima Thioub, Professor/Historian
- A representative from the Association of Cultural Journalists
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