Prince Albert II was in Dakar for the opening of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Saturday 31st October, the first Olympic event ever held in Africa, and visited 16-year-old Monegasque rider Valentine Platini the following day ahead of her Olympic debut.
The Prince, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, travelled to the Senegalese capital from Cameroon. He arrived at the end of an African tour that also took him to Madagascar. He was welcomed on arrival by Guédel Ndiaye, Monaco’s honorary consul in Senegal.
The Games run until 13th November, and Monaco is represented by two athletes: Platini in show jumping and sprinter Maxime Connen, who competes in the men’s 100 metres on Sunday 8th November.
A summit and a spectacular opening
Before the opening ceremony, the Prince took part in the Dakar 2026 Summit, held in the presence of the President of Senegal and several heads of state. The summit’s theme was ‘Sport and Development: from Olympic momentum to a lasting legacy’.
That evening’s ceremony celebrated Senegalese culture and the diversity of the African continent through music, dance and tradition, with the young athletes at its centre. It also brought a special moment for the Principality, as Platini joined riders from several nations in the raising of the flags alongside the equestrian delegations.
Encouragement before competition
On Sunday 1st November, after talks with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, Prince Albert travelled to Diamniadio, around 30km from Dakar. There he toured the equestrian centre with Ingmar De Vos, President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and Ibrahima Wade, Director General of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee.
The visit gave the Prince the chance to meet Platini and the Monegasque delegation, and to pass on the Principality’s encouragement before she enters the competition. The equestrian events run from 3rd to 6th November. Platini rides in the individual show jumping, with the final on Friday 6th November, and will also compete for a combined European team in the mixed continental event on Thursday 5th November.
From the pool to the futsal court
The Prince then made a tour of the competition venues. At the swimming complex, he watched the men’s 100 metres butterfly and presented the medals. There he met several leading figures of the international sporting world, including former IOC President Thomas Bach, former FIA President Jean Todt, actress Michelle Yeoh and Russian Olympic swimming champion Alexander Popov.
At the Iba-Mar-Diop sports complex in the Médina district, he watched Venezuela play Ukraine at futsal and France take on Argentina at rugby sevens. He also visited the DEX, a venue built to host major national and international events, where he watched table tennis.
The Dakar visit brought the Prince’s African trip to a close. According to the Palace, it reaffirmed the Principality’s commitment to the Olympic values, to promoting sport among young people and to building a lasting sporting legacy.
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