The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games, Dakar 2026, were born from the desire of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to take the Games all over the world and to “put the Games at the heart of Africa’s transformation”.
As Dakar prepares to host Africa's first Olympic Games, here are some facts and figures about the multi-sport event for young athletes aged 15 to 18.
Dakar 2026: a first for Africa
Dakar 2026 will mark the first time that an Olympic sporting event will be held on the African continent. Dakar was confirmed as the host of the Youth Olympic Games at the 133rd IOC Session in 2018.
The West African nation was chosen ahead of Botswana, Nigeria and Tunisia.
The event was originally scheduled for 2022, but following the global health crisis of 2020, Senegal and the IOC agreed to postpone the Summer Youth Olympic Games until 2026.Play
Duration Time1:41
A first in Africa: Senegal will host the 2022 YOG
Full gender equality in Dakar 2026
Dakar 2026 will mark the first time that there will be an equal number of male and female athletes at the Olympic Games, and equal representation in every sport and event as well.
Of the 239 events in Dakar, there will be 11 mixed team events, 114 men's events and 114 women's events The only gender-restricted competitions will be the women's rhythmic gymnastics individual and group events; these will be balanced by the two additional men's apparatus in artistic gymnastics.
There will still be 108 athletes in each gender category in both gymnastics disciplines, the first time the sport has achieved gender parity at the Games.
La boxe et la lutte franchiront également ce cap à Dakar.Play
Duration Time3:20
Meet the 15-year-old who wants to revive Senegalese boxing tradition
New sports in Dakar 2026
The number of sports has not been confirmed for the Dakar 2026 programme. Seven additional sports were proposed by Dakar 2026 including baseball5, breaking, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and wushu.
Moreover, the fight will welcome the new discipline of beach wrestling to sit alongside the freestyle. Canoeing and kayaking events will be held as beach events in the Atlantic Ocean, while for the first time swimming modern pentathlon will take place as a open water racing . .
Read more: Senegalese surfing champion Cherif Fall in pursuit of Paris 2024Play
Duration Time16:22
Dakar breakers see new opportunities with Olympic debut | Breaking Life
Dakar 2026: The sites
The Games will be held at different venues in three host locations: the capital Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly on the coast.
Dakar.
- Iba Mar Diop Complex (Iba Mar Diop Stadium);
- Samba Diéry Diallo barracks;
- Egg Tower Complex (Olympic swimming pool);
- National Wrestling Arena;
- Vivier Almadies Beach.
Diamniadio
- Diamniado Olympic Stadium;
- Dakar Arena;
- Dakar Exhibition Center;
- CICAD;
- French Tennis Academy
Saly
- Saly Beach, East;
- Saly Beach, West;
- Saly Golf Course.
Play
Duration Time2:55
From Broken Boards to Surfing Elite: The Story of Senegalese Cherif Fall
Dakar 2026: A lasting legacy for Africa and Senegalese youth
Dakar 2026 hopes to encourage young people to get active through a celebration of sport and culture that will launch in October and November 2022, when the YOG 2022 were originally scheduled before their postponement.
The festival Dakar en Jeux aims not only to promote the Youth Olympic Games, but also to "encourage young people to get involved." The festival will be held annually until 2026, with sports activities and competitions, concerts and cultural celebrations.
The local organising committee will also run a new education programme focusing on Olympic values that aims to reach up to 900,000 children in 11,000 schools by 2026. Students aged 9 to 15 across Senegal will have the opportunity to attend classes, with participants also having the opportunity to volunteer at the YOG.
There is also an initiative Kids Olympic Skills to promote education and youth engagement through sport, with the national project giving children aged 6 to 18 the chance to try a range of different sports.
All of these activities are in line with the Youth Olympic Games' mission of acquiring important skills, connecting with other cultures and celebrating the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
