Dakar prepares to host Youth Olympic Games, with six refugee athletes among the competitors

Summary

The Youth Olympic Games get underway in Dakar on 31 October, and Senegal is pushing to be ready in time. Africanews reports that six refugee athletes are taking part, including young athletes based in Uganda who are chasing their Olympic dream. France 24 reports that Senegal is pulling out all the stops as it hosts the Youth Olympic Games, which it describes as the first Olympic event ever organised in Africa.

Timeline

1. Africanews

   22 Oct 2026, 18:21 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that young Uganda-based refugees are chasing their Olympic dream in Senegal, as they are among six refugee athletes taking part in the Youth Olympic Games, which get underway in Dakar on 31 October.

2. France 24

   23 Oct 2026, 09:58 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Olympic fever has gripped Senegal as Dakar hosts the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever organised in Africa, and that the country is pulling out all the stops to be ready on time.