Senegal on Friday unveiled “Ayo,” the official mascot of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) — the first Olympic event ever to be hosted on the African continent.
“Ayo,” a lion wearing a tengadé, the traditional Fulani cap, was presented as the emblematic figure of the Dakar 2026 YOG. According to the organisers, “Ayo embodies the calm strength and wisdom of the Senegalese people and reflects the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.”
The mascot was chosen through a nationwide contest that brought together nearly 500 students aged 12 to 18 from 41 schools across 16 departments of Senegal.
Table tennis and youth preparation
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) continues to promote the sport across Africa in the run-up to the YOG. In Dakar, from 29 September to 8 October 2025, an intensive training camp gathered 23 young Senegalese players (13 boys and 10 girls) for technical and competitive sessions. The program is part of a continental initiative involving 37 African associations aimed at creating a lasting legacy for table tennis.
Wushu makes debut
The Chinese martial art wushu will make its first appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, featuring two combined events: Changquan and Taijiquan. The routines will be judged based on quality, performance, and difficulty. European expert Juliette Vauchez describes the discipline as “a complete spectacle combining power, flexibility, and coordination.”
Venues and competition schedule
Events will include athletics, football, basketball, handball, table tennis, and wushu. Competitions will take place mainly in Dakar (basketball, handball, table tennis), in Diamniadio — a new city located 30 km east outside the capital — for some Olympic and cultural activities, and in the seaside resort of Saly-Portudal, south of Dakar, for football and water sports.
Athletes from across the continent will take part in the Games, which will officially run from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
Ahead of the event, the “Dakar en Jeux” festival, scheduled from 4 to 9 November 2025, will allow the public to meet “Ayo” before the official launch of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
SS/sf/lb/as/APA