Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics: Khaby Lame and Omar Sy Carry the Flame

On Friday, October 30, the day before the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games, Dakar experienced the concluding kilometers of the Olympic flame relay. Between the Place de l'Indépendance and the Place de la Nation, twenty torchbearers, including celebrities like Khaby Lame and Omar Sy, covered five kilometers amid the cheers of a growing crowd. The French-Senegalese actor Omar Sy served as the final relay runner, taking on the honor of lighting the cauldron at the podium set up for the occasion at the Place de la Nation.

At 6 PM (UTC), Khaby Lame, known for his silent humor and as the world's top TikToker, grasped the Olympic flame in front of a sparse crowd. Initially curious faces turned towards him to confirm that indeed it was Lame, the young man born in Dakar who has since captivated the world through his TikTok account. Surrounded by a handful of curious onlookers and fans armed with smartphones, Khaby Lame raised the flame triumphantly before moving forward to mark the final leg of the relay which had journeyed through all 13 regions of Senegal over the past month, culminating in Dakar.

The relay passed notable landmarks such as the gare TER, the Grand Théâtre, and the headquarters of Senegalese Radio Television (RTS). Alongside Khaby, Modou Lô, a former wrestling champion whose mere presence drew local kids, and Jacky Heung, a Chinese action star, joined the relay. Other unrecognized heroes, like Sergeant Djibril Sarr of the Senegalese army, shared the honor, stating, "It’s a privilege for me, for my country."

Among the onlookers of all ages and backgrounds were Breton mothers from Bruz who took their children along to experience this Olympic adventure. Omar Sy, the last runner, connected with an audience of around one hundred people, expressing pride as he lit the cauldron, "We are very happy, we are very proud. It's official, the first Olympic Games in Africa have begun."

In the crowd, Malick, a resident of Colobane, expressed that he didn’t feel the excitement yet, but he looked forward to attending events like athletics and boxing. On the other hand, Nantenin Keïta, a Paralympic medalist from Rio 2016, expressed her wish to have participated in the Youth Olympics, reflecting on the vibrant energy surrounding the youth. "If I could go back in time, I would love to compete in these Youth Olympics and feel this energy. But I’m glad to witness this first in Africa," she said with a smile.

Khaby Lame, with a following of over 160 million, shared similar sentiments of joy and pride, stating, "I feel proud. I can’t feel happier. I'm proud of my country." At the conclusion of the flame relay, Olivia Nloga, responsible for promoting the Games, summed up the spirit on the eve of the opening ceremony: "These have been 40 days of the flame tour, over 30 stops throughout Senegal. A fantastic moment where we shared energy, love, and strength. Today, it’s clear that Africa knows how to welcome, and this energy will continue to resonate during the Games."