October 31, 18:00IOL

Preparation for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Final Countdown Review

Preparations for the first African Youth Olympic Games in Dakar are gaining momentum: the torch relay is traveling across Senegal, with a team of 6,000 volunteers and a national delegation of 136 young athletes helping to bring this event to life.

Work is underway throughout Dakar, including sports arenas, hotels, and the former French military base of Ker Ayo in Ouakam, which has become the preparation center for the Games. Here, volunteers are collecting uniforms and accreditation before heading out to welcome and assist athletes, officials, journalists, and spectators.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are scheduled from October 31 to November 13 and are expected to gather around 2,700 young athletes from 206 countries. The events will take place in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Salı.

Hospitality at the National Level

Mamadou Dianya Ndiaye, President of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSS), stated that the goal is to offer guests an experience based on the Teranga tradition—Senegalese hospitality. He emphasized that Senegal will offer not perfect, but authentic and warm Games, calling sport the 'universal language of the world.' Addressing arriving delegations, he added: 'You will not be our guests. You will be home.'

The Olympic flame has spread the spirit of the Games beyond the host cities. Lit in Athens on September 10 and arriving in Dakar on September 14, it traveled 3,600 km across 14 regions of Senegal, carried by about 450 torchbearers. This relay has made the Games a national celebration, reaching communities far from the capital.

The Senegalese delegation itself consists of 69 girls and 67 boys who will participate in 23 out of 25 sports in the program. The athletes received the national flag from President Bassir Diomaye Faye during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on October 26. Faye urged them to demonstrate discipline, courage, and solidarity while representing their country. Ndiaye advised them to give their all, respect their opponents, and be proud of giving everything they have.

A Call for Fair Play

Two African Olympians also appealed to the young participants to incorporate the values of honesty and fair play both during and after the Games. Among the six 'Believe in Sport' ambassadors who will interact with athletes and their teams during Dakar 2026 are Malian basketball player Kadi Kanute Tunkara and South African athlete Khotso Mokoena.

Kanute Tunkara, who competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, stated: 'Protecting sport is a shared responsibility, and every athlete plays a role in maintaining fairness and respect.' She added that 'true victory cannot be bought, manipulated, or achieved through deceit. It comes through talent, dedication, and honest effort.'

Mokoena, a multiple Olympian and silver medalist in long jump at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, noted that respecting sport and fellow competitors can help young athletes build a long-term career. He stressed: 'Honesty is not just about how you compete, but what kind of athlete and person you become throughout the journey.'

Athletes and members of their support teams will be able to participate in interactive sportsmanship events at the Believe in Sport stand in the Athletes' Village 365.

The Work Behind the Reception

The organizing committee has identified 25 priority measures covering areas such as accommodation, transport, healthcare, and telecommunications. Airport facilities have also been enhanced to receive delegations. The Iba Mar Diop Stadium has been completed, and test runs have been conducted in sports such as athletics, taekwondo, and cycling. Organizers have also focused on developing the Olympic Village and roads, preparing the necessary venues and services for the Games.

Organizers selected Kenyan marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Brazilian skateboarder Raissu Leal as ambassadors, uniting two athletes from different generations and disciplines to inspire young participants. In addition to competitions, Senegal hopes the Games will benefit local communities, stimulate the economy, and encourage more youth to engage in sports.

For Ndiaye, hosting the Games marks a historic moment for the continent. He stated that Africa 'will enter the history of the Olympic Games through the grandest doors.'

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iol.co.zaOctober 29, 12:34

Durban presented as host city for South Africa's bid for Olympic Games worth 500 billion rand

The city of Durban has been put forward as the main organizing city for an ambitious campaign to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games on African soil for the first time, either in 2036 or 2040.

The formal bid was submitted to the Olympic House in Johannesburg on Thursday. This was done by the current president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Lwandile Simelane, and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gethon Mackenzie, after receiving approval from the national Cabinet.

This historic project, preliminarily valued at 500 billion rand, plans to utilize the existing infrastructure of the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums in three major urban centers. This approach fully complies with the strict criteria of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding sustainable development and economic efficiency.

South Africa joins a group of seven countries, including Qatar, India, Germany, and Turkey. SASCOC will conduct virtual presentations before the IOC Future Host Commission in November 2026. This will be followed by formal feasibility reviews concluding in March 2027, and the final vote for the host country in 2029.

designindaba.comOctober 21, 16:14

Ibrahim Mahama's Exhibition 'Harvest Season' to Take Place at Fondation Cartier in Paris

Acclaimed Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama is transforming the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris into a space for contemplating history and reinterpreting Africa's cultural possibilities. This exhibition marks Mahama's first major exposition in Paris and is scheduled to open in October 2026.

Mahama is known for using materials bearing the imprint of labor, trade, and economic exchange in his work to expose the power structures embedded in everyday objects. The 'Harvest Season' exhibition continues this approach, questioning what remains of previous notions of progress and how their unrealized potential might influence alternative futures.

The exhibition will bring together nine artists and collectives who will examine the legacy of colonialism, industrialization, and African aspirations. Works by masters such as photographer James Barnor, artist Gideon Appah, and textile artist Zohra Opoku will engage in dialogue through photography, painting, and textiles.

The participants' works challenge the notion that history is a closed chapter; instead, they position it as something that can be revisited, contested, and reinterpreted. Furthermore, the exhibition reflects Mahama's collaborative approach to developing cultural infrastructure in Tamale, northern Ghana, where he has established institutions to support artistic production, research, and exchange.

At the Fondation Cartier, the 'Harvest Season' exhibition prompts viewers to envision new forms of collective life. The exhibition will run until February 28, 2027.

www.aajtak.inOctober 21, 04:42

Temba Bavuma sets age record for captain, scoring a century against Australia

South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, demonstrated outstanding play in the Test series match against Australia in Gqeberha. His record innings not only helped the team avoid early difficulties but also allowed him to surpass a significant record set by former Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

Temba Bavuma became the oldest captain in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC) to score a hundred. At the start of the match, Bavuma was 36 years and 154 days old. Previously, this record belonged to Rohit Sharma, who achieved this milestone in 2023 during a Test in Nagpur at the age of 35 years and 285 days.

The intensity of the game was extremely high: Bavuma spent more than nine hours on the field, highlighting his patience and determination. When the match began, South Africa's game was difficult, and the first batsmen fell quickly. However, captain Bavuma held his ground, countering the opposing bowling attacks, and played a brilliant innings of 179 runs off 338 balls.

Thanks to this resilient and brave play, South Africa managed a strong comeback in the match and built up an impressive total. In the first half of the match, Bavuma spent 547 minutes on the field, which is 9 hours and 7 minutes.

Bavuma received excellent support from his teammates: Marco Jansen scored an impressive 85 runs in an aggressive style, and Simon Harmer added 82 runs, demonstrating tactical acumen. Thanks to these big partnerships, South Africa managed to score a huge total of 425 runs in the first innings and declared their innings closed.

In response, the Australian team also faced problems. Star bowler Kagiso Rabada struck the first blow against the Australians early in the innings. As a result, South Africa took a very strong position in this contest.