Senegal Youth Olympics in Dakar end on high note

The Dakar Youth Olympics wrapped up with something the Olympic movement has been searching for: genuine enthusiasm. Crowds showed up, the host city embraced the moment, and Senegal got to showcase a continent that rarely gets the global sporting spotlight. China took home the most golds, which is unsurprising given its consistent investment in youth athletics. But the more interesting storyline is the return of Russian athletes competing under their own flag — the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that this has happened at an Olympic event. That decision will be debated for years, and the Youth Olympics, of all stages, becoming the venue for that quiet normalization is worth noting. For Senegal, the legacy question is whether the infrastructure and attention translate into lasting investment in West African sport. Hosting is one thing; building on it is another. The crowds came. What happens next is the harder part.