Senegal hosts the first Olympic event in Africa's history
The Olympic movement has entered a new chapter with its first event on African soil. The historic occasion brings together young people from around the world, highlighting the power of sport and culture to connect communities.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games officially opened in Senegal on October 31, marking the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent.
The opening ceremony took place at the 55,000-seat Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, approximately 30 kilometers from the capital, Dakar.
A highlight of the ceremony featured 100 young people from different countries performing African drumming movements in a virtual environment. Chinese artificial intelligence technology made the joint digital performance possible.
Each participant only needed to provide a personal photograph, which an AI system used to generate a short video showing them playing traditional drums.
“Artificial intelligence played a very important role in creating the stage effects we wanted, adding a new dimension to the opening ceremony,” said Ibrahima Wade, general coordinator of the Games' organizing committee.
Visitors can also explore an interactive experience zone where they can generate personalized videos of themselves wearing traditional local costumes and celebrating with drums, as well as receive commemorative cards.
Chinese technical specialists have also developed a dedicated cloud computing platform supporting ticketing, electronic visas, competition management and information services during the Games.
As reported by SSTV+, Senegal is hosting the first Olympic event in Africa's history, bringing together young athletes, cultural traditions and innovative digital experiences.
