DAKAR, Nov. 1 -- The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games opened on Saturday, marking the first time an Olympic event has been held on African soil.

The two-hour opening ceremony took place at the 55,000-seat Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, about 30 kilometres from Senegal's capital, Dakar, with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry in attendance.

The ceremony showcased Africa's cultural heritage through traditional music, dances, costumes and performances, including a 360-dancer formation depicting the continent's map. A separate act highlighted contemporary African art, music and hip-hop.

Following the parade of athletes, Coventry described the occasion as a his...