Diamniadio:Dakar The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) concluded on Friday at the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio, marking the end of the first Olympic event ever held on African soil.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the closing ceremony took place behind closed doors and was broadcast exclusively on the official Games website. The Games, which commenced on October 31, brought together approximately 2,650 young athletes competing in over 150 medal events across 25 sports in venues located in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry addressed the athletes during the closing ceremony, highlighting their historic participation. "To our athletes and our teams, you have all made Olympic history, being the first event ever on the African continent," she said. Coventry expressed her hope that the athletes had enjoyed their experience and were inspired to make a positive impact on the world.
China emerged as the leader on the medal table with 18 gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals. Notably, Liu Lili and Su Juntao claimed China's first gold in the mixed double sculls at the coastal rowing beach sprint competition, becoming the inaugural Youth Olympic champions in the event. The Games also saw the debut of wushu as a medal sport, with China's Lin Yilei winning the men's changquan combined title, securing the first Olympic gold medal in the discipline.
African athletes achieved a record-breaking 76 medals, including 27 gold, 17 silver, and 32 bronze, surpassing the previous continental record of 56 medals set at Buenos Aires 2018. Five African teams placed in the top 10 of the medal standings. Notably, Kenya made history on November 3 by winning the women's rugby sevens title, becoming the first African nation to achieve Youth Olympic gold in that sport.
At a closing press conference, Kirsty Coventry remarked on the results as indicative of the growing investment in sports across Africa. She expressed pride in seeing numerous African countries in the top 10, noting that nearly every participating African nation reached a final or won a medal.
Ibrahima Wade, the general coordinator of the Dakar 2026 organizing committee, highlighted Senegal's increased international visibility, which rose 2.7-fold by the ninth day of the Games. Wade emphasized the powerful role of the Youth Olympic Games, sport, and the Olympic spirit in enhancing a country's profile and shaping its international image, deeming it a real measure of the Games' success.