Dakar, Oct. 31 -- Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye unveiled the mascot "Ayo"for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games here today.
The ceremony was attended by Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Minister of Youth and Sports Khady Diene Gaye, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry.
The mascot, a small lion, wears a traditional Senegalese tingade hat and colorful African-style garments. Its shoes reflect local craftsmanship. The design aims to symbolize youth, vitality, and the African spirit.
The name "Ayo" means "joy" in Yoruba, reflecting Africa's cultural diversity and aligning with the Youth Olympic Games slogan, "Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates."The design resulted from months of work by the...