Dakar 2026 is set to make history on Saturday as Senegal hosts the first-ever Olympic event on African soil, bringing together thousands of young athletes from around the world for a landmark sporting celebration.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has praised the enthusiasm of volunteers preparing for the Games after receiving a warm welcome from dozens of them, who greeted her with high-fives.

“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,” Coventry said. “We’re feeling that energy now, so thank you all for volunteering. Thank you for making these Games so special.”

Around 2,700 athletes aged 17 and under are expected to compete in 25 sports during the two-week event, which will be staged across Dakar, Diamniadio and the coastal town of Saly, approximately 80 kilometres south of the capital. Eight venues will host the competitions.

Senegal will field 136 athletes, while the international line-up will feature competitors from across the globe. Russian athletes are also expected to return to Olympic competition under their national flag and anthem in selected sports, subject to the rules of the relevant international federations.

Beyond the sporting action, Dakar 2026 represents a significant moment for Senegal and the wider Olympic Movement. The Games offer the West African nation an opportunity to showcase its organisational capacity, promote tourism and strengthen its reputation as a destination for major international sporting events.

However, the historic occasion comes amid economic challenges, including mounting public debt, rising living costs and unemployment. These pressures have raised questions about how the investments made in hosting the Games will translate into lasting benefits for the population.

Senegalese authorities hope the event will create opportunities for skills development, improve sports training facilities and leave a positive legacy for young people long after the closing ceremony.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has repeatedly highlighted the significance of the Games for Africa’s younger generation. When the Olympic flame arrived in Dakar on September 12, he told Senegalese people that young Africans were being watched with “confidence and pride”.

The flame travelled approximately 3,600 kilometres across Senegal, passing through all 14 regions before reaching the capital, symbolising national unity and building anticipation for the Games.

With athletes, officials, volunteers and visitors converging on Senegal, Dakar 2026 is expected to place African youth at the centre of the global sporting stage while testing the country’s ability to turn a historic Olympic milestone into a lasting national legacy.

Meanwhile, the first batch of Sierra Leone’s delegation which includes the Chef De Mission and the Beach Volleyball Team will depart the shores of Freetown today and the rest of the delegation will join them in Dakar in the following days.