Swimmers Yulya Anne Bonnici and Samuel Camilleri carried the Maltese flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, held on Saturday 31st October at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, Senegal. The Games are the first Olympic event ever staged on the African continent, and bring together young athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees in 25 sports across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly until 13th November.
“Hosting a Youth Olympic Games brings its share of challenges, and the organisers have worked hard to stage the first Olympic event on African soil. From the moment we arrived, the welcome has been warm, vibrant and colourful,” said Johanna Grech, Chef de Mission and member of the Maltese Olympic Committee Executive Board. “Yulya and Sam are settled, well prepared and looking forward to racing.”
Swimmers first in the water
Bonnici and Camilleri, accompanied by Andria Friggieri, are the first Maltese athletes to compete. Bonnici gets Team Malta’s programme under way in the 100m freestyle on Monday 2nd November, then swims the 50m freestyle on Wednesday 4th November and the 200m freestyle on Friday 6th November.
Camilleri races the 400m freestyle on Tuesday 3rd November and the 200m butterfly on Friday 6th November. He had also been entered in the 800m freestyle, but after a review of athlete safety and wellbeing considerations, the IOC revised the swimming schedule and dropped the event from the programme, leaving him to concentrate on his two remaining races.
The rest of the team
The remainder of the Maltese delegation arrives in Dakar later this week. Director of Sport Charlene Attard travels with gymnast Janet Galea (Artistic Gymnastics) and athletes Nick Bonett and Matthew Azzopardi (Athletics), supported by their coaches, Nataliya Berehova and Tiziana Zammit respectively.
Team Malta competes at Dakar 2026 under the direction and with the support of the Maltese Olympic Committee.
Photo Credit: Maltese Olympic Committee
