Signs across the Senegalese capital proclaim “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates” ahead of the Youth Olympic Games, which will mark the continent’s first time to hold an Olympic event when they kick off on Saturday.
Over the course of two weeks some 2,700 athletes aged 17 or younger are expected to compete across 25 sports, including Russians who are returning to the Games following a ban.
Events ranging from athletics to beach wrestling, rugby sevens to breaking will be held across eight venues in three locations.
Dakar, the nearby suburb of Diamniadio and the beach town of Saly, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, will all host events.