Mewett & Bortoli Carry Flag as Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics Open
IslandStats.com
Swimmer Maggie Mewett and triathlete Gianluca Bortoli proudly carried Bermuda's flag as the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games officially opened with a vibrant ceremony at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.
Staged on the outskirts of Dakar, the landmark celebration marked the first time an Olympic event has ever taken place on African soil. Over the next fortnight, 2,655 athletes aged between 14 and 17 will represent their nations across 25 sports.
A colourful parade of nations saw 205 delegations march into the 55,000-seater stadium. In accordance with Olympic tradition, Greece led the procession into the arena, followed immediately by the Refugee Olympic Team, before host nation Senegal entered to thunderous applause as the final team.
Embracing gender parity, most nations were represented by joint female and male flagbearers. Mewett and Bortoli shared the honour for Bermuda, leading out the island's contingent ahead of their upcoming competition in West Africa.
Action across the sporting schedule will continue through to November 13th as the world's finest young athletes contest medal events across Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
