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Dakar 2026: OMEGA marks one-year-to-go milestone with countdown ceremony
On Friday, 31 October, Dakar’s historic railway station became the symbolic starting point on the road to the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. At exactly 6:30 p.m., the official countdown clock came to life, marking 365 days until Africa hosts an Olympic event for the very first time.

Picture by OMEGA
By Céline Penicaud
01 November 2025 06:21 GMT+92 min read
Dakar’s railway station place was buzzing with excitement on Friday evening, as several hundred spectators gathered to witness a symbolic moment — the official launch of the countdown to the Dakar 2026 YOG.

At precisely 6:30 p.m. (Dakar time), the clock’s display froze at 365 days, 00 hours, 00 minutes, and 00 seconds, signaling the beginning of the final stretch toward a historic milestone for Senegal and for Africa.

Among the crowd, several key figures took part in the inaugural ceremony: Kirsty Coventry, IOC President; Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, President of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee; Raynald Aeschlimann, CEO of OMEGA, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games; and Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of Dakar 2026. Together, they cut the inaugural ribbon, sparking cheers from the audience gathered in front of the station.

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IOC President Kirsty Coventry: We feel energised as the occasion draws nearer
Two minutes later, a second ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together both sporting representatives and local authorities, including Abass Fall, Mayor of Dakar; Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth and Sports; and Yankhoba Diémé, Minister of Transport.

Speaking at the unveiling, IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the significance of the moment: "Dakar 2026 was created from the vision of bringing the Youth Olympic Games to every corner of the world, placing them at the heart of Africa’s transformation. We feel energised as the occasion draws nearer, and as OMEGA begins the countdown."

Reflecting on OMEGA’s role as the Official Timekeeper, Raynald Aeschlimann said: "It’s an honour for OMEGA to be involved in this upcoming IOC event. Dakar 2026 feels like a significant moment for the global growth of sport, and we look forward to bringing our Official Timekeeper expertise to the occasion."

This moment marks a major milestone in the lead-up to Dakar 2026, the first Olympic event ever hosted on African soil. With one year to go before the Opening Ceremony, the clock stands not only as a measure of time, but as a symbol of anticipation, pride, and the collective spirit of a continent ready to make Olympic history.


31 October - 14 November 2026
Dakar 2026 | Youth Olympic Games | Senegal
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