JOJ Dakar 2026: Khaby Lame and Omar Sy chosen as ambassadors for the final stretch of the flame.
On Friday, October 30, just before the inauguration of the Youth Olympic Games, Dakar witnessed the final moments of the Olympic flame relay. Between Independence Square and Nation Square, twenty torchbearers, including personalities like Khaby Lame and Omar Sy, covered five kilometers to the cheers of a growing crowd.
Published on:
3 min Reading time
From our special correspondent in Dakar,
It was past 6 PM (UTC) when Khaby Lame, the king of silent smiles and the world's top TikToker, took hold of the Olympic flame in front of a still sparse crowd. Faces, initially curious, turned toward him as if to confirm that yes, it was indeed him, the young man from Dakar who has conquered the world through his TikTok account. Around him, a handful of onlookers, a few fans with phones. With sparkling eyes and a constant smile, Khaby Lame raised the flame like a trophy before setting off to applause. The final journey of the flame had begun, having traveled through all 13 regions of Senegal for over a month before returning to Dakar.
Modou Lô, Jacky Heung, Barros...
The procession moved through the timid crowd, passing by the TER station, the Grand Theatre, and the headquarters of Senegalese Radio and Television (RTS).
Twenty torchbearers took turns. Twenty faces, twenty stories, one mission: to bring the flame to the cauldron at Nation Square. Among them was Modou Lô, the former king of the arenas, whose stature drew children from nearby neighborhoods. Further along, Jacky Heung, the Chinese action movie and martial arts star, sparked great curiosity.
Also readEverything you need to know about the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
And then there were the unsung heroes. Those who, away from the cameras and spotlights, contribute to the event. Like Sergeant Djibril Sarr from the Senegalese army. “It’s an honor for me, for my country,” he shared.
In the crowd of followers, of all ages and backgrounds, Breton mothers from Bruz brought their children and seized the opportunity of their vacation to “experience at least a fragment of this Olympic adventure.”
Then Omar Sy appeared, the final torchbearer. He had the honor of lighting the cauldron on the podium set up for the occasion at Nation Square. The French actor of Senegalese descent felt at ease, in front of an audience of about a hundred people. “We are very happy, we are very proud. It’s happening, the first Olympic Games in Africa have begun,” he declared.
Nantenin Keïta: “If I could go back in time”
In the crowd gathered for the event, Malick, a resident of Colobane, confessed he did not “feel the enthusiasm around him.” However, this football enthusiast hopes to attend some events like athletics or boxing.
Not far from him, the emotion was more palpable with French Paralympic medalist Nantenin Keïta, who won a medal in Rio in 2016. “If I could go back in time, I would dream of participating in these Youth Olympic Games, to feel all this energy around the youth. But I am happy to be here, to experience this first in Africa,” she shared with a smile.
Khaby Lame, a man with over 160 million followers, did not hide his joy. “I feel proud, he expressed. I couldn’t be happier. I am proud of my country.”
At the end of the last day of the flame's journey, Olivia Nloga, head of the Games' promotion, summarized the spirit on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games: “It has been 40 days of the flame tour, over 30 stops across Senegal. A wonderful moment where we shared energy, love, and strength. Today, we feel that Africa knows how to welcome. And this energy will continue to resonate throughout these Games.”
More from this section
The Dakar rally-raid will take place in January 2027 in Portugal and Morocco.
These athletes and global celebrities who emerged during the Youth Olympic Games
Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane, the rise of an extraordinary player
Badminton: Christo Popov becomes the first French player to reach the world number one ranking
The Dakar 2027 will not take place in Saudi Arabia, according to information provided by the organizers.
