“Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates”: The Youth Olympic Games as an Opportunity to Build a Nation in Senegal

Dakar 2026 will be the first Youth Olympic Games hosted on the African continent. Beyond sporting performances, ceremonies and infrastructure, the event is framed as an opportunity for Senegalese people to come together, understand themselves better and build a shared story. The author argues that nation-building requires ongoing work: recognizing common bonds without erasing differences and turning the Games’ international visibility into a lasting collective legacy.