Walvis Bay became part of a historic continental sporting journey when Namibia hosted the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Flame Tour, symbolically bringing the spirit of the Games to the African continent.
The event bringing together around 300 schoolchildren and young people in celebration of sport, youth development and Olympic values. The event formed part of the “We Run for Africa” initiative, which is symbolically bringing around 300 schoolchildren and young people across the continent together in celebration of sport, youth development and Olympic values, ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The celebration featured running, sporting activities, Olympic education and an ocean conservation programme, highlighting the role sport can play beyond competition. Dakar 2026 will make history as the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil, with the Games scheduled to take place in Senegal from 31 October.
For Namibia, the occasion carries particular significance, with 12 young athletes set to represent the country across seven sports, athletics, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, boxing, cycling, swimming and triathlon. Britt Adonis-Byl, an Executive Board member of the Namibia National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association, told participants that the event was about much more than a run. “Today is much more than a walk or a run.
Today, Namibia runs with Africa,” she said. According to Adonis-Byl, the continental initiative symbolically covers approximately 30 500 kilometres, representing the circumference of Africa, with Walvis Bay adding Namibia’s footsteps to the journey towards Dakar. She encouraged the young participants to embrace the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, stressing that sport can develop leadership, responsibility and good citizenship.
“Somewhere among you may be a future Olympian,” she told the children, while reminding them that the Olympic dream belongs to every young person willing to work hard and dream big. The event also highlighted the connection between sport and Namibia’s broader development objectives, particularly through youth participation, physical activity and the development of sporting pathways.
Adonis-Byl emphasised that building sport requires partnerships between government, municipalities, schools, communities, coaches, parents, businesses, sporting federations and the media. She also thanked the Municipality of Walvis Bay, schools, teachers, national federations, coaches, athletes, volunteers and partners for contributing to the celebration.
The symbolically flame tour served as a powerful reminder to Namibia’s youth that the Olympic movement is coming to Africa and that young Namibians will have a place in this historic chapter. “Namibia is ready,” Adonis-Byl declared. “We are ready to support our young athletes. We are ready to play our part in Dakar 2026.”
From Walvis Bay to Dakar, the message was clear: We Run for Africa. We Run for Namibia. Together, we run towards Dakar 2026.
By Rudi Bowe
