Rwandan President Paul Kagame joined his Senegalese counterpart, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and other world leaders at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, marking a historic milestone for African sport.

The ceremony took place on the evening of Saturday, October 31, at Stade Abdoulaye Wade, with Dakar becoming the first African city to host the Youth Olympic Games.

According to a statement from Rwanda's Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, Kagame attended the ceremony alongside President Faye, who welcomed him to Senegal, and other heads of state.

The 2026 edition is particularly significant as it represents the first time the Youth Olympic Games have been held on African soil, bringing international attention to the continent's growing role in global sporting events.

Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the competition brings together approximately 2,700 young athletes aged between 15 and 17, who will compete across 25 sports disciplines for 153 medal events.

Beyond sporting competition, the Games aim to promote Olympic values, including excellence, friendship, respect and solidarity, while providing young athletes with an international platform to demonstrate their talents and develop their sporting careers.

Rwanda is represented by nine athletes competing in five disciplines: athletics, swimming, cycling, taekwondo and kung fu wushu.

The competitions are taking place across three Senegalese locations: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, with the Games scheduled to run until November 13, 2026.

Senegal's hosting of the event marks a historic achievement for Africa, offering the continent an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure, organisational capacity and commitment to developing the next generation of athletes.

The participation of President Kagame in the opening ceremony also highlights Rwanda's engagement with international sporting initiatives and its support for opportunities that promote youth development through sport.

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