Senegal is preparing to host the first ever Youth Olympic Games on the African continent, with the event scheduled to begin in Dakar in 2026. Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, head of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee and the Dakar 2026 organizing committee, assures the games will be authentic and reflect Senegalese hospitality – known as "Téranga". The Olympic flame was lit in Athens and handed to Ndiaye, beginning its journey to Senegal, arriving in Dakar this Friday. A public presentation will follow on September 12th at the Place du Souvenir africain, before a national relay involving 450 participants commences on September 14th, traversing numerous regions including Thiès, Louga, and Saint-Louis. The flame’s journey will culminate on October 30th at the Place de la Nation before the official opening on October 31st. Over 2,700 young athletes from 206 countries are expected to participate in the Games, which Ndiaye believes will showcase Senegal’s culture.