Flame lighting in Athens marks start of Dakar Youth Olympics cycle

The flame for the Dakar Youth Olympics was ignited in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium on Thursday, marking the beginning of the first Olympic competition to be held in Africa. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry presided over the ceremony, which utilized a concave mirror to capture the sun’s rays. The event brought together performers and athletes at the site of the first modern Olympics held in 1896. The Youth Games are scheduled for October 31 through November 13, featuring approximately 2,700 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18. Competitors will participate in 25 sports across the host city of Dakar and two other locations in Senegal. Organizing head Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye stated that the focus for the upcoming games is on providing a warm and authentic experience for all participants.

• 10:47 AMYahoo Sports — Flame lit in Athens for Africa's first ever Olympic event, Youth Games in Dakar