President Paul Kagame attended the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games alongside Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as Africa hosted an Olympic sporting event for the first time.
According to the Presidency, Kagame joined his host and other heads of state at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Saturday evening, October 31.
President Faye officially declared the Games open during a ceremony celebrating Senegalese and African culture through music, dance and artistic performances. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry also addressed the athletes and spectators.
“This is the Africa that I am so proud and so excited for the world to experience,” Coventry said.
In her address, Coventry recognised the contribution of young Senegalese whose ideas, creativity and energy helped organise the Games.
She encouraged the athletes to believe in themselves, build friendships across borders and support one another throughout the competition.
The opening production brought together more than 1,100 performers. Nearly 1,500 costumes were made locally, involving around 100 craftspeople and creative professionals, with more than 5,000 hours of work devoted to their production.
Senegalese musicians Baaba Maal, Kiné Lam and Daara J Family performed alongside Gambian kora musician Sona Jobarteh and Nigerian spoken-word artist IB Quake. Traditional wrestling, percussion and dance featured alongside hip-hop and visual arts, while a tribute recognised the continent’s 54 countries.
Senegalese-born social media personality Khaby Lame also appeared during a live-painting sequence by artist Boubou Design. The performance featured a portrait of Sitoé, one of three symbolic characters through whom the ceremony explored cultural heritage and the aspirations of younger generations.
The Youth Olympic flame’s journey across Senegal culminated in the lighting of the cauldron during the ceremony.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10