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Senegal Youth Olympics in Dakar end on high note
Dakar’s Summer Youth Olympics ended after two weeks, with enthusiastic crowds filling the streets and beaches. Senegal became the first African country to host an Olympic event, and the Games highlighted the continent’s capacity to stage major competitions while producing a record African medal haul.
Nearly 2,700 young athletes competed in 153 medal events across 25 sports. China led the gold medal table with 18, followed by Japan with 11 and Russia with eight; Russian athletes competed under their national flag for the first time at an Olympic event since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Egypt won six golds, while Ethiopia and Senegal each won five; Senegal’s was its first ever Olympic gold, among 136 athletes it entered.
In short
- Dakar hosted the first Olympic event in Africa.
- Senegal won its first Olympic gold medal.
- China topped the gold table with 18.
Explained simply
The Youth Olympics is an international competition for young athletes, held every four years. Its programme includes many of the sports featured at the main Olympic Games, and it brings together competitors from countries around the world.
Senegal is a West African country, and Dakar is its capital and largest city. Hosting the Games made Senegal the first African country to stage an Olympic event, putting a spotlight on the continent’s ability to organise major sporting competitions.
The results included strong performances by athletes from several African countries, alongside teams from China, Japan and elsewhere. Senegal’s first Olympic gold medal was a milestone for its athletes and national sporting history.