Kolda youth urged to make Olympic values a way of life

Young people in Kolda have been urged to apply Olympic values beyond sport, making them part of daily life in schools, universities and civic spaces. The appeal came from regional governor Moustapha Ndiaye during the Olympic flame’s visit to the southern Senegalese city ahead of Dakar 2026.

Ndiaye encouraged the youth of Fouladou to trust their abilities, develop their talents and take an active role in the progress of their region and Senegal. He linked the Olympic principles to peace, fraternity, solidarity, self-improvement, friendship and mutual respect.

The governor also described the flame as a symbol of hope and unity, rather than simply an object carried between towns. He said sport could help bring communities closer and strengthen social cohesion, while expressing pride that Kolda had been selected as a stop on the flame’s journey.

Young people formed the main part of a large mobilisation in the regional capital. Flame bearers moved through the city’s streets before reaching the regional stadium, where the event continued into the evening. The stop comes as Senegal prepares to host the first Olympic event in the country and on African soil, with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.