Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Africa's first Olympic event

It's here! Dakar 2026, the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games, is set to get underway on Friday, 30 October in Senegal, with the Opening Ceremony taking place a day later. 

On the eve of the first Olympic event in Africa, podcast host Yaw Ofusu Larbi is joined by Ghanaian content creator Kobe Boujee to preview the Games, discuss the sights, sounds, and flavours we can expect from Dakar 2026, including why the race to crown the best Jollof rice is likely to be the only contest not decided over the next fortnight, and what the event means for the host nation and wider continent.

Yaw also spoke to IOC President Kirsty Coventry about the momentous occasion, while legendary marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge shared how he's approaching his role at the YOGs. 

The Kenyan, who is a Global Ambassador for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, told us why he is looking forward to meeting athletes from every nation competing, including the Youth Refugee Olympic Team, in an exclusive interview with our reporter Michelle Katami. 

Watch the action from Dakar 2026 on Olympics.com and the official Olympics app, wherever you are in the world.