Sunday 01 / November / 2026
DAKAR, Senegal: Oman’s delegation joined the spectacular opening ceremony of the fourth Youth Olympic Games, Dakar 2026, on Saturday night, as Senegal welcomed the world to the first Olympic event ever staged on African soil. The Games, running from October 31 to November 13, bring together some of the world’s most promising young athletes for a celebration of sport, cultural exchange and Olympic values. More than 55,000 spectators filled the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio for an opening ceremony that marked the beginning of a historic chapter for the Olympic Movement and the African continent.
Oman was represented at the ceremony by Eng. Khalfan bin Saleh al Naabi, Board Member of the Oman Olympic Committee and Head of the Omani delegation, alongside HE Rashid bin Ali bin Humaid al Badi, Oman’s Ambassador to Senegal, representatives of the Omani Embassy in Dakar, and members of the delegation’s administrative and sporting teams.
The young national team swimmer Hamed bin Sulaiman al Hasani had the honour of carrying Oman’s flag during the athletes’ parade, marking a special milestone in his first appearance at a Youth Olympic Games. The Omani delegation also made a distinctive impression through its traditional national dress, with Al Hasani and fellow members of the sporting and administrative teams wearing Omani attire during the ceremony, proudly showcasing the Sultanate’s cultural identity on the international stage.
The ceremony was attended by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, alongside international sporting figures, heads of delegations and representatives of participating nations. Blending music, dance, artistic performances and spectacular visual displays, the ceremony celebrated Senegalese identity and the rich cultural diversity of Africa. The programme also featured the traditional Olympic proceedings, including the parade of nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
Al Hasani: Carrying Oman’s flag was a defining moment
For Al Hasani, the opportunity to lead his country’s delegation as flagbearer was more than a ceremonial honour. It was a moment of immense pride and a significant milestone in his young sporting career. The national team swimmer said he was deeply honoured to carry Oman’s flag at his first Olympic appearance, describing the experience as a source of motivation ahead of his competition in Dakar and future international assignments.
“I felt an immense sense of pride and honour to be among the young athletes carrying their countries’ flags. It was a truly special moment that reflected the strongest values of national pride, belonging and loyalty to our homeland,” Al Hasani said.
He added that the recognition and encouragement he received would inspire him to make the most of his opportunity at Dakar 2026 and continue developing as an international swimmer.
“I will do my best to deliver positive results and set new personal bests during these Games. At the same time, I want to gain as much experience as possible from this competition and use it as a foundation for my future international appearances,” he said.
Al Hasani also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Olympic Committee and the Oman Aquatics Association for their continued support, encouragement and commitment to the development of young Omani athletes.
Oman’s young athletes ready for competition
With the opening celebrations complete, attention now turns to the sporting programme, where three young Omani athletes will represent the Sultanate across swimming, taekwondo and fencing. Al Hasani will lead Oman’s sporting campaign when he competes in the men’s 400m freestyle on Tuesday, November 3, at the Complexe Tour de l’Œuf in Dakar. The event will mark his first competitive appearance at Dakar 2026 after the organisers, in coordination with World Aquatics, cancelled the men’s and women’s 800m freestyle events scheduled for Sunday due to high water temperatures in the Olympic swimming pool.
The Omani swimmer has continued his daily training sessions in Dakar under the supervision of national aquatics team coach Mohamed Bouguera of Algeria, with preparations focused on building his physical readiness and sharpening his technical performance ahead of the 400m freestyle heats.
Oman’s second appearance will come through national taekwondo athlete Ziyad bin Ali al Balushi, who is scheduled to compete in the men’s under-48kg category on November 8 at the Iba Mar Diop Arena in Dakar. The Sultanate’s participation will conclude with fencer Jana al Sharji, the world championship silver medallist, who will take part in the women’s individual épée competition on November 10 at the Dakar Expo venue in Diamniadio.
