The one-year countdown to Dakar 2026 has begun. As Official Timekeeper of the Youth Olympic Games, OMEGA has set the clock in motion, ready to record the first ever IOC sporting event to be held in Africa.
The competition, held between October 31st and November 13th next year, will mark the 4th summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games. It will welcome around 2,700 young athletes, aged up to 17 years old, who will contest 153 events in 25 sports and 10 engagement sports, including the debut appearances of Baseball5 and Wushu. OMEGA will be there to measure each moment, bringing its renowned Olympic and Paralympic Games expertise to the two weeks of action.
To ignite the “One Year To Go” celebration, a special ceremony was held in Dakar, Senegal, where Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA, was joined by Kirsty Coventry, the President of the International Olympic Committee; Mamadou Ndiaye, President of the Dakar 2026 Youth Organising Committee (YOGOC); and Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of YOGOC.
Mr. Aeschlimann said, “It’s an honor 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. At the Youth Olympic Games, we always witness the beginning of many incredible athletic careers, and I’m certain that next year’s historic events in Senegal will see many more young talents on the rise.”
Ms. Coventry said, “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 energized as the occasion
draws nearer, and as OMEGA begins the countdown. We extend our heartfelt thanks to OMEGA for their unwavering partnership and commitment to the Olympic values. We can’t wait to welcome the world’s most promising athletes to a competition that could launch their sporting careers and transform their lives within seconds.”
Mr. Ndiaye said, “This edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be unlike any other. With hosting taking place in Africa, there will be such a rich and vibrant culture surrounding the full programme. It’s special to be here with OMEGA and to actually see that Dakar 2026 is now getting closer every day.”
Mr. Wade said, “There is already so much motivation behind Dakar 2026, and today’s countdown gives everyone a boost of momentum for the year ahead. We thank OMEGA for their positivity and look forward to working together towards the start line.”
OMEGA’s legacy of Olympic and Paralympic Games timekeeping began in 1932 and has included all of the previous Youth Olympic Games editions, which began in Singapore in 2010. All of the young athletes will benefit from the brand’s unparalleled expertise, precision, and commitment, along with innovative technology that includes essential equipment such as Photofinish Cameras, the Electronic Starting Pistol, and quartz-driven Quantum Timers.