Olympic history made at Dakar 2026
IOC President Coventry took to the stage and addressed the young athletes.
“To our athletes and our teams, you have all made Olympic history, being the first event ever on the African continent,” she said.
“Thank you so much for the last 14 days. I hope that you have had so much fun, so much joy. I hope that you’re inspired to go out and change the world and make the world a better place.
“You are inspiration to everybody back home in all of your communities, please enjoy the rest of your time in Dakar. Merci beaucoup, and to the people of Senegal and Dakar, jërëjëf, thank you.”
President of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye added: “You will each take home a piece of the flame, a piece of Senegal, a phone number, a friendship,” he said, before adding: “Thank you for coming to this country that respects and adores you.”
Finally, the Olympic anthem was played while the flag for the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games was lowered.
The third and final part saw the region’s creative community showcased with graffiti art – begun at the outset of the ceremony – coming to fruition while slam poetry was performed by Mariama Touré and a final dance led by Sitoé.
The digital flame was then extinguished live from Place du Souvenir Africain, and Dakar 2026 was declared over.
“I appreciate it so much that I feel so good for being here,” said Reese, a Malaysian B-girl who was named as her nation’s flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony. “I enjoyed this journey. Being the flagbearer means a lot to me.”
“It’s a big exclamation point on such a good event,” said Ruby Webb, who competed in women’s windsurfing for Team GB.
“I don’t think it’s the last opportunity,” Webb continued, when Olympics.com asked her whether this was the final chance for the athletes to celebrate together.
“I hope we all see each other again in the future, but this is definitely a final big point on the end of the event.”
“I’ve enjoyed many things at the Youth Olympic Games – the food, games, even Athlete 365 House because I have played many games there,” said Refugee Olympic Team 800m runner, Clément Niyomuhoza. “It’s nice at the closing ceremony because we have some dance and say bye bye to each other before we leave Dakar.”
Senegalese table tennis player Marieme Diallo summed up the mood in Dakar with a sentiment that will be echoed by many who experienced this first Olympic event in Africa.
“We didn’t want them to end because it was such an amazing adventure for all of us,” she said. “I honestly can’t find the words to express my gratitude to everyone who organised the Games. Everything was so well organised, everything was perfect. We’re so happy!”
Source: www.olympics.com
