Olympic Flame Reaches Senegal for Youth Games
· Sports · The Independent, Al Jazeera
The Olympic flame arrived in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday, marking the countdown to the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent. A procession of 100 women, known as 'lingeer,' carried the flame to the Place du Souvenir Africain to celebrate the upcoming Youth Olympic Games. Basketball legend Mame Maty Mbengue lit the cauldron during the ceremony attended by International Olympic Committee head Kirsty Coventry. The flame will now embark on a 3,600-kilometer tour across all 14 regions of Senegal before the games begin on October 31. Approximately 2,700 athletes aged 15 to 18 are expected to compete in 35 sports.
Why it matters
Hosting the Youth Olympic Games represents a milestone for African sports infrastructure and international event hosting capabilities.
Read the original report — The Independent
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