On Monday 23 June 2025, the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium vibrated with the colors of Respect, Excellence, and Friendship during Olympic Day. It was a day rich in sport and sharing, seeing the participation of 1200 students in a festive atmosphere.
The morning kicked off with « LET'S MOVE, » a 15-minute fitness show. The YOGOC staff, members of the national sports federations, students and guests all came together to open the ceremony. With nearly 1,200 studentsfrom various schools in attendance, the atmosphere was undeniably festive for this Olympic Day, which was dedicated to physical activity and Olympic values. A total of twelve sports were showcased, including badminton, fencing, Baseball 5, golf, triathlon, rugby, hockey, beach handball, beach volleyball, wrestling, archery and modern pentathlon. and pentathlon moderne.
« This year, we wanted to make this day special. With 492 days to go until the Games, we needed to bring together as many children as possible to raise awareness of the scale of the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and introduce them to the sports that will feature in them, » said Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of YOGOC.
The children were given a 10-minute slot to explore the different workshops. The young participants seized the opportunity to discover and experiment with a wide variety of sports disciplines that were different from those they usually practise.
The event also provided an opportunity to educate young people about Olympic values through the PEVO (Olympic Values Education Programme) exhibition, as well as to discuss the prospects of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which have generated strong enthusiasm among Senegalese young people.
Moussa Dia, the president of the School Sports Federation and a Ministry of National Education agent, believes thatthese Games present a genuine opportunity for students.
« The school community has been actively involved in organising the YOG. Students have therefore been able to participate in the mascot design competition and benefit from PEVO training. The Ministry helps certain student-athletes get time off for training camps and competitions. »
Culturally speaking, a performance by a Senegalese rapper saw thousands of students dancing and creating memories during a day full of activities.
They will also remember that this Monday, 23 June, coincided with the inauguration of Kirsty Coventry. The first woman and the first African to hold such a position, the new president of the International Olympic Committee succeeds Thomas Bach for an eight-year term.
