Senegal hosts first Olympic event on African continent

It's the fourth ever Youth Olympic Games and the first to take place in Africa. Tens of thousands of spectators flocked to the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in the suburbs of Dakar on Saturday to see the opening ceremony of an event postponed by four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm proud because today, as an African, we're bringing back the Olympic flame for the first time and to Dakar. I'm proud of Dakar and of everything that's happening with all the athletes. This is what happens with all the athletes. Over the next two weeks almost 2,700 competitors aged 14 to 17 will compete across 25 sports ranging from athletics to beach wrestling and rugby sevens. The Dakar Youth Games will see Russian athletes compete under their own flag for the first time since 2022 and will also welcome a refugee team comprised of six athletes based in Kenya and Uganda. It means a lot to me because being in an Olympic opening ceremony is something big because the ceremony will go globally. Many hope it will not be the last time Africa is to host a major international sporting event. On Thursday, Durban was named as South Africa's candidate for either the 2036 or 2040 Olympics, though it will be several years before the host state is announced.