The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Flame was lit at the Panathenaic Stadium during a highly symbolic Lighting and Handover Ceremony, carrying a powerful message to young people around the world. The ceremony was attended by International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.

At the culmination of the ceremony, Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos handed the Olympic Flame to Mamadou Ndiaye, President of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, marking the beginning of its journey to Senegal.

The Flame was lit by High Priestess Katerina Misichroni, who took on the role for the first time. The lighting was followed by a flame tour inside the Panathenaic Stadium, with World Athletics U20 bronze medallist Eleni Iakovaki as the first torchbearer. She was followed by athletes Brancou Badio (basketball), Kyriaki Zerva (sailing), Oumy Diop (swimming), Louis François Mendy (swimming), and Iason Mouselimis (rowing) lighting the cauldron.

The artistic direction and outstanding choreography of the Priestesses’ ritual were created by Artemis Ignatiou. The musical composition for the Ceremony was written by Marios Joannou Elia, while the costumes for the Priestesses were designed by internationally acclaimed Greek designer Mary Katrantzou.

The Olympic Anthem was performed in a contemporary interpretation by internationally acclaimed Greek singer-songwriter Athena Andreadis, whose rendition brought a fresh musical dimension to the work. The Greek National Anthem was performed by the ROSARTE Children’s and Youth Choir, conducted by Rozi Mastrosava.

Isidoros Kouvelos: “The Flame belongs to the youth”

Hellenic Olympic Committee President Isidoros Kouvelos addressed a message to young people around the world:

“For the Hellenic Olympic Committee, today is a day of honour. We are passing on a symbol and renewing a trust — the trust that Olympic values can travel. The Flame speaks without translation. It speaks of peace, respect, friendship, solidarity and human dignity.

Dear young athletes, dear young people,

This ceremony belongs, above all, to you. To your dreams, your courage, your early mornings, your years of training, your sacrifices and your hopes.

Sport will teach you many lessons. It will teach you patience and respect. And if you listen carefully, it will teach you something greater: that the true measure of an athlete is the character shaped along the journey.

This is the message the Flame carries to Dakar today: that young people can make the world more open, and that sport can become a language of understanding.

From this Stadium, a place of memory and emotion, Africa will welcome the Flame and Dakar will celebrate! And from Athens, we send this message:

The Flame belongs to the youth. And through the youth, the Olympic dream continues to move forward!”

Kirsty Coventry: “This moment means so much to me”

In her address, IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the personal and historic significance of the occasion:

“It means so much to be back here in Athens for this important moment. Greece holds a very special place in my own Olympic journey. Here, in Athens, I won my first Olympic medals. I can still remember the emotions and dreams I carried with me as a young athlete. And here, in Greece, many years later, I was elected President of the International Olympic Committee.

So, standing here today, as the Youth Olympic Games Flame begins its journey to Africa, is deeply moving for me.

As an African, this moment means so much to me. For many years, we spoke about the day when an Olympic event would finally come to our continent. Now, with Dakar 2026, that moment is becoming a reality.

In just a few weeks, Senegal will welcome young athletes from around the world for the first Olympic event ever to take place on African soil.

This is a proud moment for Senegal. It is a proud moment for Africa. And it opens an important new chapter for the Olympic Movement.”

A celebration of Greece and Senegal

The artistic programme opened with performances by Greece’s National Cheerleading Team, represented by the Aposperides and Amazones teams. Senegal was represented by singer Kya Loum, who presented a special cultural performance and performed the Senegalese National Anthem.

The Ceremony also featured 18 young athletes from the Lavrio Sports Club, who carried the national flags, symbolising the connection between the Olympic Movement and the younger generation.

The Ceremony took place at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium, where renovation works carried out by the Hellenic Olympic Committee are currently underway, with the financial support of Capital Maritime and Mr Evangelos Marinakis. The works include the replacement of the athletics track and the cleaning of the Stadium’s marble surfaces.

The Ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis; Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Vroutsis; Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Vassilis Spanakis; Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas; Secretary General of Sport Giorgos Mavrotas; former Minister and MP Dora Bakoyannis; former Minister Fani Palli-Petralia; HOC Secretary General Stefanos Chandakas; IOC Member in Greece and President of the European Olympic Committees Spyros Capralos; President of the International Olympic Academy Haris Tsolakis; President of the Hellenic Olympic Academy Dimosthenis Tambakos; members of the HOC Plenary; and prominent figures from the worlds of sport, culture and politics.

The Ceremony was presented by sports journalist Pinelopi Gioni, representing the new generation of journalists. Coordination of the Ceremony was entrusted to Dr Konstantinos Pantazis, under the supervision of Thomas Tokas, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee’s Olympic Torch Relay Commission.

A special protocol for the Youth Olympic Games

For the Youth Olympic Games, and only for this event, a special protocol is applied under which the Lighting and Handover of the Olympic Flame take place during the same ceremony and at the same venue.

The Panathenaic Stadium, a landmark of modern Olympic history, thus once again became the meeting point between Greece’s Olympic heritage and a new generation of athletes from around the world.

The Flame now begins its journey to Dakar, where the Youth Olympic Games will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026.

Dakar 2026 will be a historic milestone for the Olympic Movement, as Africa will host an Olympic event on its soil for the first time in history.