DAKAR, 01 Nov. - (ANA)- As Senegal opens the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Saturday, International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has spoken of her pride as an African and the historical significance of the Games – the first to be held in Africa.

 

"It is time for Africa. It's time for Senegal. It's been a long time," said Coventry, who is the first woman as well as the first African to head the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

 

"I know Senegal is going to do an incredible job of welcoming the world and the world's athletes to come and share in our African traditions and our excitement. We're very proud of that."

 

Between 31 October and 13 November, nearly 3,000 athletes under the age of 17 will compete in 25 sports – ranging from athletics to beach wrestling and rugby sevens – at eight venues in and around the Senegalese capital Dakar.

 

 

 

 

During the Games, 136 athletes from Senegal will take part in 23 sports.

 

They will be joined by Russian athletes, who will return to Olympic competition under their own flag following a ban enacted in the wake of the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

 

In July, the International Olympic Committee effectively lifted the Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) suspension. According to the ROC, 13 Russian athletes will participate and 10 coaches will accompany them to Senegal.

 

At the last Summer Youth Olympic Games, held in Buenos Aires in 2018, France's 99 athletes won 27 medals, including five golds, to finish ninth on the medal table. This year, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee will send a delegation of 69 athletes who will compete in 22 of the 25 sports on the programme.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/01 November 2026 - - -