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The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games opened in Dakar, Senegal on 31 October, mark
The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games opened in Dakar, Senegal on 31 October, marking the first time an Olympic event of any kind has been held on African soil. Around 2,650 young athletes from 204 national Olympic committees are competing across 25 sports, with the games running until 13 November. Organisers highlight two milestones: full gender parity — equal quota places for male and female competitors — and the first-ever inclusion of a Refugee Olympic Team at the Youth Games, with six athletes contesting athletics, judo, and taekwondo. The host nation has fielded 136 athletes, its largest delegation at any edition. Alongside competition, educational and cultural activities are designed to connect participants with Senegalese communities and with each other across national lines. As Africa hosts a major international games for the first time, what do you think moments like this mean for how a country or continent is seen — and sees itself — on the world stage?