International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry has promised a spectacular opening ceremony for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which begins in Senegal (today) Saturday, 31 October.
Coventry arrived in the country on Monday and has since toured the facilities ahead of the first Olympic Games to take place on African soil. Although organisers have kept many details of the ceremony under wraps, the IOC chief said rehearsals had given her a glimpse of what to expect.
“We were on site yesterday for some rehearsals and it was fabulous. I think you are going to see an incredible show,” Kirsty Coventry told the press on Thursday.
The seven time Olympic medallist also praised the smooth running of preparations and said she was excited to be in Senegal for the historic event.
“It is time for Africa, time for Senegal. We’re very excited. We know it’s going to be fabulous, and I’m just happy to have my feet on the ground. To do the dance, be here with you. Yeah. It’s going to be amazing. We’re very excited,” the Zimbabwean underscored.
Dakar 2026 Opening Ceremony to Celebrate African Culture
Christopher Dubi, the Olympic Games executive director, said the ceremony would showcase the culture and energy of Senegal and the wider continent.
“Well, the opening ceremony will be everything the country has to offer and the continent has to offer. The culture is really vibrant. The music, the colours, the clothing. You will see it’s going to be really special. It’s going to feel very Senegalese, very African and yeah, having seen some teasers, it’s going to be incredibly special for the audience.”
Directed by Adama Diop and overseen by Khady Niang, the ceremony will reflect the Games’ official motto, ‘Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates’.
Niang said the event would give African artists and organisers the chance to tell their own story on the Olympic stage.
“I really wanted, for once, at an African ceremony—the first Olympic ceremony held on the continent—this story to be a reclaiming of our narrative. That was very important to us. So, to answer your question, what we can expect is a ceremony produced entirely by Africans, to reclaim their story and tell the world who we are, where we come from, and where we want to go,” Niang said in an interview with Le Quotidien.
She also revealed that organisers recruited 625 dancers through auditions held across Senegal. Around 1,100 people are expected to take part in the ceremony.
“All regions of Senegal will be represented… We truly went to the regions of Senegal to organise large-scale auditions and demonstrate inclusivity.”
Dubi said 6,000 local volunteers would help the event run smoothly. Known as ‘Jambaar 26’, a Wolof word meaning ‘hero’, they will support athletes, officials and fans throughout the Games.
Coventry praised the volunteers and said the IOC delegation was “very proud of the team.”
“The volunteers make everything. It’s such a warm welcome, and I think volunteers bring such a special aspect to an Olympic Games and to a Youth Olympic Games. “We’re feeling that energy now, so thank you all for volunteering. Thank you for making these Games so special.”
Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, president of the Dakar 2026 organising committee, also urged Senegal’s young athletes to embrace their role as hosts.
“You are not just Team Senegal. You are the hosts of these Games. The world is at our doorstep. Show them what Teranga means,” he stressed.
Teranga is a Wolof word for hospitality, drawn from Senegal’s most widely spoken indigenous language.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, which has a capacity of 55,000 and will also host the archery events. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is expected to attend.
Dakar 2026 will welcome approximately 2,655 athletes aged 14 to 17 from 204 National Olympic Committees. They will compete in 25 sports and 153 medal events, alongside 10 additional engagement sports.
