Dakar: Ayo, a young lion symbolizing the joy and energy of Senegalese youth, has been unveiled as the official mascot for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) during a ceremony at the Grand Theatre in Dakar. The name Ayo means joy in Yoruba, a language widely spoken in West Africa, and reflects the spirit of celebration and unity associated with the Games. Adorned with a traditional Fulani Tingandé hat, Ayo represents wisdom, dignity, and a connection to rural life, embodying the values of Dakar 2026 and highlighting Senegal’s cultural heritage as the host nation.

According to Deutsche Welle, the mascot was revealed by the YOG Organising Committee at a special ceremony marking the one-year countdown to the Games. The event was attended by prominent figures, including the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, Humphrey Kayange, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Dakar 2026, and Mamadou D. Ndiaye, President of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee and the Senegalese Olympic Committee.

The selection of Ayo as the mascot was the result of a nationwide competition initiated by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee in partnership with the Ministry of National Education. The competition was open to middle and secondary school students and received over 500 entries from Senegal’s 16 academic inspectorates. This initiative aimed to foster creativity among young people and strengthen their connection to the Games, which will be the first Olympic event hosted on African soil.

In addition to the mascot unveiling, the One Year to Go celebrations will feature the launch of the official countdown clock later today at 6.30 p.m. local time in Dakar, conducted by Worldwide Olympic Partner OMEGA.

The celebrations will extend into early November with the fourth and final edition of Dakar en Jeux. This annual cultural and sports festival, a key component of the Dakar 2026 engagement program, will take place from 4 to 9 November in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. It will unite local communities through sport, music, and visual arts while promoting Olympic values among Senegalese youth.

The Dakar 2026 YOG is scheduled to occur from 31 October to 13 November 2026, hosting 2,700 of the world’s top young athletes aged up to 17. The Games will be staged across three locations in Senegal: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.