Olympic flame arrives in Senegal for the first Olympic event to be held in Africa, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/5a6f4-olympic-flame-arrives-in-senegal-for-the-first-olympic-event-to-be-held-in-africa/)
13-09-2026
The Associated Press report covers the historic arrival of the Olympic flame in Dakar, Senegal, marking the countdown to the 2026 Youth Olympic Gamesthe first-ever Olympic sporting event to take place on the African continent.Key details from the report include:
- Arrival and Welcome: The flame arrived in Senegal’s capital on Saturday, September 12, 2026, and was greeted with widespread celebration, music, and dancing at Dakar’s waterfront Place du Souvenir Africain.
- The Procession of 100 Women: A procession of 100 women, referred to as lingeer (a Wolof title traditionally given to queens or royal women), carried the flame dressed in flowing orange and gold traditional attire with yellow headwraps. The march honored Senegalese women and symbolized the passing of values across generations.
- Lighting the Cauldron: Senegalese basketball icon Mame Maty Mbengue had the honor of lighting the cauldron during the ceremony.
- Leadership and Speeches: Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye received the flame, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry addressed the audience, highlighting that the event marks a proud, transformative moment demonstrating Africa’s capability and the power of its young generation.
- Torch Tour: Having been lit in Athens, Greece, following ancient tradition at the Panathenaic Stadium, the flame will embark on a 3,600-kilometer (about 2,237-mile) journey across all 14 administrative regions of Senegal, carried by over 400 torchbearers before returning to Dakar.
- The Games: The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will run from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together approximately 2,700 athletes aged 15 to 18 to compete across 35 sports in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.