Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame lighting ceremony held at Panathenaic Stadium

On September 10, 2026, the flame lighting and handover ceremony for the IV Youth Olympic Games, 'Dakar 2026', took place at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The event was attended by International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and the Cypriot Deputy Minister of Culture, Clea Papaellina, who represented the Republic of Cyprus. The ceremony served to highlight the enduring significance of Olympic ideals and the role of sports and culture in fostering international unity.

The artistic portion of the event was directed and choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou, featuring original music composed by the prominent Cypriot composer Marios Joannou Elia. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the Olympic flame began its journey to Dakar, Senegal, where the games are scheduled to be held. The event at the Panathenaic Stadium remains a hallmark of Olympic tradition, acting as the consistent site for the lighting and transition of the flame for the Youth Olympic Games. With the flame now on its way to the host city, preparations for the upcoming sporting event enter their final phase.