The organisation of the Youth Olympic Games (JOJ) in Dakar 2026 reached a decisive stage during a landmark ceremony at the Grand Théâtre. In the presence of an assembly of officials, including the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, as well as Kirsty Coventry (president of the CIO) and Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye (president of the Organizing Committee), the visual identity of the Games was unveiled: Ayo, the official mascot. It is a symbol of a strong identity. Ayo is a lion with a noble and protective appearance, characterized by the wearing of a tengadé, the traditional cap associated with the peulh shepherds of the northern regions. This choice aims to represent the tranquil force and the ancestral wisdom inherent to the Senegalese people. Beyond his role as an iconic figure, Ayo embodies the fundamental Olympic ideals: friendship, respect and excellence. Un Concours Stimulant pour la Jeunesse. This is a competition for young people.
Dakar 2026: Ayo, a Lion-Mascot who embodies the spirit of youth and African Olympism
