Senegal hosts Africa’s first Olympic event
Historically, Africa has never hosted the Olympic Games due to the complications of finance, infrastructure and the scale of transport and accommodation required. In 2018, that changed, and Senegal was awarded the 2022 Youth Olympic Games, which were postponed until this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Engagement across Senegal has been high, with competitions […] The post Senegal hosts Africa’s first Olympic event appeared first on New African Magazine.
Black News 
Historically, Africa has never hosted the Olympic Games due to the complications of finance, infrastructure and the scale of transport and accommodation required. In 2018, that changed, and Senegal was awarded the 2022 Youth Olympic Games, which were postponed until this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Engagement across Senegal has been high, with competitions being run to find the country’s Olympic song, mascot and dance. Senegalese songwriter, composer and singer, Mamy Mbaye came up trumps with her joyful Teranga, a song that conveys a message of community spirit and hospitality to the world.
Sixteen-year-old student Ndeye Mariama Diop was stunned to discover that from almost 500 entries, her drawing of a smiling lion with a mane resembling the African continent, wearing a traditional Fulani tingandé hat, was the winner of the mascot design prize. Named Ayo, which means ‘joy’ in Yoruba, the lion symbolises the courage, strength and pride of Senegalese youth.
In July, a competition was launched for young people aged 18 to 25 to choreograph the Olympic dance to an excerpt from Teranga. The results are to be announced in time for rehearsals, with the Games themselves taking place from 31 October to 13 November.
2,700 young sportspeople will descend on the trio of host sites – Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, to test their skills across a variety of disciplines, from athletics and archery to swimming and skateboarding.
With the necessary infrastructure up to speed, over 400 young Africans have been given the skill set to run large-scale events through specialist training at the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy.
The official volunteer programme for the Games has attracted over 6,000 people to assist in areas like spectator support and transport management.
When the Games end, they will leave a legacy of skilled young people and, hopefully, an open door for future African bids.
Ayo the lion is just waiting to roar into action!
The post Senegal hosts Africa’s first Olympic event appeared first on New African Magazine.
