The curtain has officially risen on the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with last night’s opening ceremony marking the start of the fourth edition of the summer event, which will run in Senegal until 13 November. It is a historic occasion for the international Olympic movement, as this marks the first time a five-ring event has been hosted on the African continent.
At the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, among delegations from all over the world, the San Marino Team also took part in the parade, represented by swimmer Margherita Gregoroni, who had the honour of carrying the blue-and-white flag during the opening ceremony. It was a particularly meaningful moment for the young athlete and for the entire San Marino Olympic movement.
The start of the Games was also celebrated by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, who in her remarks highlighted the historic significance of the event for Senegal and for the whole African continent, while also sending a message of encouragement to the young athletes taking part.
For the San Marino delegation, the sporting action is about to begin in earnest. Tomorrow, Margherita Gregoroni will break the ice in the 100-metre freestyle, the first of three events the San Marino swimmer will compete in. Her heat is scheduled to start at 10:14am local time at the Complexe Tour de l’Å’uf in Dakar.
Gregoroni’s other appointments, under the guidance of coach Luca Corsetti, will be the 200m individual medley on Wednesday, 4 November, and the 200m freestyle on Friday, 6 November.
On Wednesday, Greta San Martini will also arrive in Dakar, representing San Marino in athletics in the triple jump, an event scheduled for Sunday, 8 November.
