DAKAR (AP) — Dakar is hosting Africa’s first Olympic event as young athletes compete in the two-week Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. The Games bring together about 2,700 athletes ages 15 to 18 competing in 25 sports in the capital and two other cities.
Children wrestle outside a venue for beach wrestling competition at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
China's Hanyun Sun react after losing to Poland in the women's 3x3 basketball gold-medal game at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Iran's players celebrate a goal during the women's futsal match between Iran and Cameroon at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegalese basketball legend Mame Maty Mbengue lights a torch from the cauldron during a ceremony ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
An aerial view shows Iba Mar Diop Stadium in the Medina neighborhood of Dakar, ahead of the Youth Olympics Games in Senegal, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Lithuanian players celebrate after defeating Latvia in the men's 3x3 basketball semifinal at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Spectators dance as Senegalese musician Carlou D performs during a concert celebrating the arrival of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame at the Place du Souvenir Africain in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Swimmers compete in men's 50-meter backstroke heat at the Youth Olympic Games, at the Tour de l'Oeuf complex in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegal's wrestler Babacar Mbaye reacts after defeating Georgia's Davit Mdzevashvili in a men's 60 kg beach wrestling bronze medal match at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
USA's Eseta Moala (9) challenged by Senegal's players during the women's rugby sevens match between USA and Senegal at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Pedestrians walk past a poster promoting the upcoming Youth Olympic Games outside Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
People watch as wrestlers compete in beach wrestling at the Youth Olympic Games in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
U.S. wrestler Ann Matilda Hruby, in white, and Morocco's Inaya Lahssini compete in a women's 75kg beach wrestling match at the Youth Olympic Games in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Performers spell out "Dakar" during the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegal fans support their team during a beach wrestling match at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegal's Maguette Diop celebrates after winning gold medal in a men's 80 kg beach wrestling final match at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
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Children wrestle outside a venue for beach wrestling competition at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
China's Hanyun Sun react after losing to Poland in the women's 3x3 basketball gold-medal game at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Iran's players celebrate a goal during the women's futsal match between Iran and Cameroon at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegalese basketball legend Mame Maty Mbengue lights a torch from the cauldron during a ceremony ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
An aerial view shows Iba Mar Diop Stadium in the Medina neighborhood of Dakar, ahead of the Youth Olympics Games in Senegal, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Lithuanian players celebrate after defeating Latvia in the men's 3x3 basketball semifinal at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Spectators dance as Senegalese musician Carlou D performs during a concert celebrating the arrival of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame at the Place du Souvenir Africain in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Swimmers compete in men's 50-meter backstroke heat at the Youth Olympic Games, at the Tour de l'Oeuf complex in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegal's wrestler Babacar Mbaye reacts after defeating Georgia's Davit Mdzevashvili in a men's 60 kg beach wrestling bronze medal match at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
USA's Eseta Moala (9) challenged by Senegal's players during the women's rugby sevens match between USA and Senegal at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Pedestrians walk past a poster promoting the upcoming Youth Olympic Games outside Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
People watch as wrestlers compete in beach wrestling at the Youth Olympic Games in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
U.S. wrestler Ann Matilda Hruby, in white, and Morocco's Inaya Lahssini compete in a women's 75kg beach wrestling match at the Youth Olympic Games in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Performers spell out "Dakar" during the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
Senegal fans support their team during a beach wrestling match at the Youth Olympics in Saly, Senegal, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)
