Dakar to host first Youth Olympics in Africa from 31 October, with Russian athletes back

A first on African soil

The fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games opens on Saturday, 31 October, in Dakar and runs until 13 November. It is the first Olympic event held on African soil. About 2,700 athletes are expected to compete in 25 sports across three cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, about 30 kilometres from the capital, and Saly, a coastal town roughly 80 kilometres away. Deutsche Welle counts 153 events spread over eight venues, and Senegal will field 136 athletes. The opening ceremony is set for 18:30 local time on Saturday. Five-a-side baseball, kung-fu and beach wrestling, a Senegalese speciality, make their debut on the programme.

Russian athletes return

The International Olympic Committee lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July. These Games are the first Olympic competition since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 in which Russian athletes can again compete with their own flag, colours and anthem, although the flag and anthem are used only when a Russian athlete wins. The ROC says 13 Russian athletes will take part in cycling, judo, equestrian, swimming, skateboarding, artistic gymnastics, taekwondo, wushu and fencing. Human rights defenders are the sharpest critics of their participation, according to Deutsche Welle.

Senegal136

Russia13

Senegal

136 athletes

Russia

13 athletes

Data from the article text

Debt, anger and a public that is unconvinced

Senegal opens the Games with a heavily indebted state and an economic and social crisis, RTBF reports. NZZ says an audit found that the previous government under Macky Sall had systematically understated public debt, after which rating agencies downgraded the country and the International Monetary Fund froze a lending programme. Youth unemployment has risen and living costs have grown quickly, NZZ adds. Le Monde reports growing anger ahead of the opening, as the country has spent heavily on preparation. RTBF says the Games have struggled to win over most Senegalese, whose concerns are the cost of living and jobs. Deutsche Welle reports that many of them see the Games as a pointless expense.

Organisers and authorities make their case

Ibrahima Wade, the head of the organising committee and a former Senegalese minister, says the Games mean a great deal to the country.

“These Games mean a great deal to us.”

Wade says a school programme involves 11,000 schools and aims to reach 900,000 children and young people with the topic of sport. Authorities see the Games as a long-term investment in young people and infrastructure, and hope they will make Dakar a leading tourist destination. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who received the Olympic flame in Dakar on 12 September, addressed Senegalese citizens directly.

“All of African youth is watching you with confidence and pride.”

The flame then covered 3,600 kilometres during a tour of Senegal's 14 regions. IOC president Kirsty Coventry, looking forward to the opening ceremony, expects an extraordinary show and says the infrastructure is impressive.