Olympic fever grips Senegal as Dakar hosts Youth Olympic Games

As Senegal prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the first Olympic event ever organised in Africa, the country is pulling out all the stops to be ready on time. FRANCE 24’s Sarah Sakho and Simon Martin report.

For the first time, an Olympic event is taking place in Africa: Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games from October 31. It's a major opportunity for the West African country, which is seeking greater international recognition and looking to establish itself as a nation of sport. With 2,700 athletes and more than 1 million spectators expected, the Games are already shaping up to be the biggest international event ever organised by Senegal.

The country has been preparing for this major challenge for months. With infrastructure refurbished, the capital Dakar undergoing a facelift and thousands of volunteers receiving training, Senegal is working day and night to ensure that everything is ready in time.

This pressure is also motivating the athletes, for whom the Games offer a unique opportunity to shine and make their country proud. For this generation of young sportsmen and women, the goal is simple: winning a medal, whatever it takes. Senegal, for its part, hasn't stood on an Olympic podium in nearly 40 years.