The Olympic flame for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games has been lit at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, beginning its journey towards Senegal for the first Olympic sporting event ever to be held on African soil. The ceremony on September 10 marked a historic moment for the continent, with the flame formally handed to the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee before travelling to Senegal.
The flame was lit using the rays of the sun in keeping with Olympic tradition, before torchbearers carried it through the stadium. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the organisation’s first African and first female president, described the occasion as deeply significant, saying that the event opens “an important new chapter for the Olympic Movement.” The flame is scheduled to arrive in Dakar on September 12.
Dakar 2026 will bring together young athletes from around the world from October 31 to November 13, with competitions taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. The Games are expected to feature about 2,700 athletes aged between 15 and 18 competing across 25 sports, creating a major platform for young African athletes and showcasing Senegal to a global sporting audience.
For Africa, the significance extends beyond sport. The Games represent the continent’s first opportunity to host an Olympic event and could strengthen Senegal’s profile as a destination for international sport, tourism and youth development. From September 14 through October 30, the flame will travel across all 14 regions of Senegal under the theme “Pass the Energy”, bringing sporting, cultural and educational activities to communities before returning to Dakar for the opening ceremony.
