Fourteen regions. One Olympic flame. A Special Forces escort.
For the first time, the Olympic flame is in Africa for an official IOC event. The Washington Times’ Joseph Hammond spoke with Kandy Sarr of the Senegal Olympic Committee as the torch tours Senegal ahead of the Dakar Youth Olympics. The Games will feature surfing, skateboarding, breakdancing, beach volleyball and a modified version of basketball.
The Games begin later this month.
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[HAMMOND] Today we’re here in Senegal for the first-ever International Olympic Committee event in Africa. The Dakar Youth Olympics will begin later this month. Right now, the Olympic torch is touring the country, visiting cities and communities all across Senegal. The Olympic flame is here in Africa for the first time for an official IOC event. Members of the Senegalese Special Forces have accompanied this torch and this flame across 14 regions of Senegal. Ahead of the Youth Olympics, which begin later this month.
[SARR] We started the torch tour with a very big team, a very energetic team. We went from Dakar to Thiès, and we go into the whole 14 regions in Senegal, and it’s a blast. It’s the first time in Africa. Very unique opportunity. We’re looking forward to show our culture, African culture, and especially Senegalese culture that is very rich.
[HAMMOND] The Dakar Youth Olympics include many sports that were either founded or popularized in the United States, from a modified version of basketball to beach volleyball, to surfing, to breakdancing, to skateboarding, and will now feature athletes from around the world competing for the right to hold Olympic gold.
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