President Bio, First Lady Attend Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Senegal
Sahid Bangura President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio have attended the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, following a high-level Sport and Development Summit involving African leaders.
President Bio disclosed their attendance in a statement on Saturday, October 31, 2026, expressing appreciation to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for the warm hospitality extended to him and the First Lady during the event.
Describing the ceremony as an unforgettable experience, President Bio said Sierra Leone looked forward to welcoming more major sporting events to Africa, emphasising the continent’s potential to host international sporting competitions.
The opening ceremony followed the second edition of the Sport and Development Summit, which President Bio attended alongside President Faye and other African heads of state in Dakar.
Held under the theme, “Sport and Development: From Olympic Momentum to a Lasting Legacy,” the summit focused on strengthening Africa’s commitment to using sports as a tool for development and building on the momentum generated by the Youth Olympic Games to attract more major international sporting events to the continent.
President Bio’s participation in both engagements highlighted Sierra Leone’s involvement in continental discussions on sports development and Africa’s ambition to expand its presence on the global sporting stage.
