THE road to the first-ever Olympic event on African soil officially begins tomorrow as Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry headline the launch of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) “One Year to Go” celebrations.
With just 365 days until the opening ceremony, Senegal is pulling out all the stops for this major milestone.
The combined presence of Faye and Coventry — the first woman and first African to lead the Olympic body — underscores the immense significance of hosting the continent’s inaugural Olympic sporting event.
The day’s main event will be the official unveiling of the Dakar 2026 mascot at the Grand Théâtre in Dakar, introducing the world to the dynamic new face of the Games.
Faye will lead the charge, signalling the nation’s full commitment to delivering a spectacular YOG. He will be joined by swimming legend Coventry, who brings serious sporting credibility to the launch.
Also in attendance will be Humphrey Kayange, chair of the IOC Co-ordination Commission, and Mamadou D Ndiaye, president of Dakar 2026.
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Later in the day, anticipation will build for the massive OMEGA countdown clock unveiling in the heart of the capital, formally starting the 365-day countdown to the opening ceremony.
The momentum doesn’t stop with the launch.
The celebrations will flow into November with the final edition of Dakar en Jeux (Dakar in Games), an annual festival fusing sport, music and art.
From November 4 to 9, across the three host cities — Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly — thousands of students and local communities will get to experience the Olympic spirit first-hand.
The festival aims to be a huge party that brings the excitement of the Games directly to the people.
In a crucial step for the world’s National Olympic Committees (NOCs), sports administrators from around the globe will touch down in Dakar for the NOC Open Days from November 5 to 7.
Representatives from up to 45 NOCs will receive vital tours of the competition and training venues, helping them prepare their athletes to compete.
The Dakar 2026 YOG will showcase 2 700 of the world’s best young athletes (up to 17 years old) from October 31 to November 13, 2026.