![Dakar 2026 Opens: First Olympics on African Soil](https://cdn.slatesource.com/7/0/e/70ee320d-9696-4f5c-a2bd-8e287bdc9b3f.webp)

# Dakar 2026 Opens: First Olympics on African Soil

- [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/dakar-2026-opens-first-olympics-on-african-soil)
- By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph)
- Created on Oct 31, 2026

Edition

IV Summer Youth Olympics

Athletes

2,663 from 205 NOCs

Medal events

153 across 25 sports

Run dates

Oct 31 to Nov 13 2026

Ceremony audience

30+ countries live

[olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026?utm_source=slatesource)

## 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

## 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.

> Today it's not just a nation that is welcoming the Youth Olympic Games, it's an entire continent that is opening its arms.
>
> — africanews.com

Dakar 2026 schedule30.10.2026 – 13.11.2026

30.10.2026Olympic flame carried by Khaby Lame on eve of opening

30.10.2026

31.10.2026 18:30Opening ceremony at Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio

31.10.2026 18:30

31.10.2026Competition begins -- 153 medal events across 25 sports

31.10.2026

13.11.2026Closing ceremony -- Games conclude after 14 days

13.11.2026

[olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026/news/dakar-2026-full-schedule-dates-venues-rising-stars?utm_source=slatesource)

What to watch for

0%

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

[olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026?utm_source=slatesource)

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.

[Dakar 2026 official site (IOC)](https://www.olympics.com/en/dakar-2026?utm_source=slatesource)

[Africanews: Senegal set for opening ceremony](https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/31/senegal-set-for-opening-ceremony-of-youth-olympic-games/?utm_source=slatesource)

[France24: Senegal hosts Africa's first ever Youth Olympic Games](https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20261031-senegal-hosts-africa-s-first-ever-youth-olympic-games?utm_source=slatesource)