Saint-Louis showcases heritage on Dakar 2026 flame tour

Saint-Louis has used the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame to present its architectural, historical and cultural heritage. The tour brought attention to the island’s UNESCO World Heritage status, held since 2000, while linking the Olympic movement with the identity of the Senegalese city.

The procession crossed the city from its main entrance towards the governorate, passing through the Sor roundabout and over the Faidherbe Bridge. The route also highlighted the Baya Ndar square and the river crane, a landmark associated with Saint-Louis’ move into the age of machinery in the late 19th century. Young people, youth groups, officials and performers joined the programme, with songs, dancing, national colours and traditional costumes adding to the occasion.

The flame later travelled by boat from the crane to Camp Henry Jay on the riverbank. Judoka Fary Sèye, a bronze medallist at the 2007 African Games, and Ousseynou Diop, winner of the recent Dakar-Gorée crossing, carried it during the water procession. The evening programme at Baya Ndar included workshops and activities centred on Olympic values.

The Saint-Louis stop gave the Dakar 2026 campaign a cultural dimension, celebrating the city’s iron balconies, historic villas and narrow streets alongside its traditions, including the Signare dress and Ndawrabine dance. The Games are scheduled for 31 October to 13 November under the slogan “L’Afrique accueille, Dakar célèbre”, with “Pass the energy” promoting friendship, solidarity and cultural exchange.