Dakar Youth Olympic Games 2026 Opening
Temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in the Senegalese capital as eight Italian under-18 track and field athletes prepared for three days of competition, according to the Federazione Italiana Di Atletica Leggera (FIDAL).
The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games runs from October 31 to November 13, 2026, marking the first time a five-rings Olympic event has ever been hosted on the African continent, as reported by Domani. The ten days of competition wrap up on November 13, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal, as reported by Domani.
OA Sport reported live results from the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, tracking competitions across track and field, fencing, basketball 3×3, and gymnastics. A total of 2,665 athletes aged 14 to 17 from 205 delegations are competing across 25 disciplines, as detailed by Domani.
Junedin Abdo Wins Steeplechase as Simon Scardi Finishes Eleventh
In the men’s 2000-meter steeplechase, Ethiopian runner Junedin Abdo claimed the gold medal with a time of 5:29.30, while Italian competitor Simon Scardi finished eleventh, finishing 40.71 seconds back, according to OA Sport.
FIDAL noted that the Italian team arrived in Dakar the previous Wednesday to acclimatize to the local climate and travel demands from the Olympic village at the Université Amadou Mahtar Mbow in Diamniadio to the stadium thirty-five kilometers away.
Davide Crisci was in action in the 400-meter hurdles, OA Sport reported. In the men’s discus throw, Egyptian athlete Yahya Sawaby won gold with a throw of 68.23 meters, ahead of Jamaican Kamari Kennedey and Chilean Vittorio Gorziglia, according to OA Sport.
Shing Him Harris Ho Wins Men's Foil Fencing Gold
Shing Him Harris Ho of Hong Kong secured the gold medal in men’s foil fencing by defeating Japanese finalist Masashi Maeda 15-8, according to OA Sport.
During the fifth and penultimate rotation of the men’s team gymnastics competition, the standings showed China leading with 132.397 points, followed by Japan with 130.864 points, Great Britain with 128.830 points, Germany with 123.996 points, Belgium with 122.830 points, Egypt with 121.929 points, Italy with 118.664 points, and Mexico with 117.728 points, OA Sport reported.
Watch the Games via Live Streaming and TV Summaries
The fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, is broadcast entirely via live streaming on olympics.com, the official YouTube channel of the Olympic Games, and on Eurosport through the Discovery+ and HBO Max platforms, as reported by FIDAL. Daily TV summaries are also scheduled around 14:00 on RaiSport, according to FIDAL.
Olympic Legacy and Future Uncertainty
While Dakar 2026 marks a historic milestone for African sport, the International Olympic Committee has already decided to suspend future host allocations for the Youth Olympic Games, Domani reported. High operating costs, limited interest from national federations, and minimal communication strategies have challenged the project designed to engage adolescents in international sport, according to Domani.
Questions About Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
When do the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games conclude?
The ten days of competition wrap up on November 13, 2026, in Dakar, Senegal, as reported by Domani.
How many athletes are participating in the games?
A total of 2,665 athletes aged 14 to 17 from 205 delegations are competing across 25 sports, according to Domani.
Where are the Italian track athletes based during the event?
The Italian track and field team is housed at the Youth Olympic village located at the Université Amadou Mahtar Mbow in Diamniadio, FIDAL reported.