:STATS [links:https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026]
[icon:STAR] Edition | IV Summer Youth Olympics
[icon:USERS] Athletes | 2,663 from 205 NOCs
[icon:TARGET] Medal events | 153 across 25 sports
[icon:CLOCK] Run dates | Oct 31 to Nov 13 2026
[icon:CHART] Ceremony audience | 30+ countries live

:TABLE [title:Dakar 2026 vs prior Summer Youth Olympics]
Edition | Host city | Year | Athletes | NOCs
I | Singapore | 2010 | 3,531 | 204
II | Nanjing | 2014 | 3,579 | 204
III | Buenos Aires | 2018 | 4,024 | 206
IV | Dakar | 2026 | 2,663 | 205

:INFO
What is new at Dakar 2026
• First Olympic event of any kind held on African soil.
• First Youth Olympic Games to achieve full gender equality in athlete quotas.
• First Youth Refugee Olympic Team, with athletes from Kenya and Uganda.
• Debut sports: Baseball5 and Wushu Taolu.
• Russia returns to Olympic competition after a four-year absence.
• Delayed four years from the original 2022 date due to COVID-19.

:QUOTE [links:https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/31/senegal-set-for-opening-ceremony-of-youth-olympic-games/, quotetype:plain, subtitle:President Bassirou Diomaye Faye]
Today it's not just a nation that is welcoming the Youth Olympic Games,
it's an entire continent that is opening its arms.

:TIMELINE [links:https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026/news/dakar-2026-full-schedule-dates-venues-rising-stars]
Dakar 2026 schedule
2026-10-30 | Olympic flame carried by Khaby Lame on eve of opening
2026-10-31 | Opening ceremony at Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio
2026-10-31 | Competition begins -- 153 medal events across 25 sports
2026-11-13 | Closing ceremony -- Games conclude after 14 days

:CHECKLIST [links:https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026]
What to watch for
[ ] Medal table: 205 NOCs competing, all 54 African NOCs included
[ ] Debut events: Baseball5 and Wushu Taolu first appearances at Youth Games
[ ] Refugee team: six athletes from Kenya and Uganda mentored by Eliud Kipchoge
[ ] Gender parity: first Youth Olympics with equal male/female quota across all 25 sports
[ ] Closing ceremony Nov 13 -- first closing of an Olympic event on African soil

:NOTE
Sources: IOC/olympics.com (primary), Africanews Oct 31 2026, France24 Oct 31 2026. Cover: NASA ISS astronaut photo ISS061-E-63342 Nov 29 2019, public domain.

:LINK
https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026
Dakar 2026 official site (IOC)

:LINK
https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/31/senegal-set-for-opening-ceremony-of-youth-olympic-games/
Africanews: Senegal set for opening ceremony

:LINK
https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20261031-senegal-hosts-africa-s-first-ever-youth-olympic-games
France24: Senegal hosts Africa's first ever Youth Olympic Games