Road to Dakar 2026

The Olympafrica Centre Lusaka, Zambia , in collaboration with the Olympafrica Foundation and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on November 2, 2025, hosted the “Road to Dakar 2026” event to promote the upcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, set to take place in Senegal.

The celebration marked exactly one year before the historic Games, the first-ever Olympic event to be held on African soil.

The initiative aimed to engage, educate, and inspire young people across the continent through values-based sports programming rooted in the Olympic spirit.

Held at the Olympafrica Centre, the one-day event sought to strengthen the delivery of Olympic Values Education while building anticipation and enthusiasm ahead of the Games.

The day’s activities included a vibrant match past, a symbolic 365-day torch relay, a moving Olympic Values poem, and a series of sports demonstrations showcasing acrobatics, breaking dancing, boxing, and cycling.

In line with the IOC’s commitment to sustainability, Olympafrica Director Tinyiko Kamanga and participants also took part in a tree-planting exercise symbolizing growth, resilience, and a greener future for the next generation of athletes.

Speaking during the event, Kamanga emphasized the importance of using sports as a tool to unite and empower youth, fostering leadership and environmental consciousness as Africa prepares to welcome the world to Dakar in 2026.

The “Road to Dakar 2026” celebration underscored Africa’s growing influence in global sports and its readiness to host a world-class Olympic event that will leave a lasting legacy for young people across the continent.