Senegal on Friday unveiled "Ayo", the friendly lion who will serve as the mascot for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG). President Bassirou Diomaye Faye introduced the mascot at a ceremony marking the one-year countdown to the event in Dakar, the country's capital and host city for the Games. The event was attended by Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Minister of Youth and Sports Khady Diene Gaye, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry. Ayo wears a traditional Senegalese tingade hat, colorful African-style garments and shoes that reflect local craftsmanship. The design aims to symbolize youth, vitality, and the African spirit. The name "Ayo" means "joy" in Yoruba, reflecting Africa's cultural diversity and aligning with the Youth Olympic Games slogan, "Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates." Months of work by the Dakar YOG Organizing Committee led up to the exciting reveal. To promote inclusiveness, the committee partnered with Senegal's Ministry of Education to launch a nationwide design competition for students aged 12 to 18, which drew nearly 500 participants. The winning design was submitted by 16-year-old Ndeye Marieme Diop from Saint-Louis in northern Senegal. The mascot's name was proposed by 18-year-old Guinean-born student Ndeye Khady Cristal Coumbassa. At the ceremony, President Faye praised the decision to include young people in the creation of Ayo. "I am pleased with the participatory and inclusive approach that the Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee has adopted in selecting the mascot for the Dakar 2026 YOG by organizing a national competition launched several months ago across all the academic institutions in the country. This method reflects the vision of an event driven by youth, designed with them and for them," he said. Senegal will be the first African country to host the Youth Olympic Games. The 2026 Dakar YOG is scheduled to open Oct. 31 and take place across three venues: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. Approximately 2,700 young athletes from around the world are expected to compete in more than 20 sports, including athletics, fencing, swimming, skateboarding, judo, sailing, beach volleyball, and rugby sevens. New sports such as breaking, five-a-side baseball, triathlon, and wushu will also make their debut. The video shows: Dakar, Senegal - Oct 31, 2025 1. Various of attendees at ceremony marking one-year countdown to 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games 2. Various of dance performance 3. Mascot "Ayo" being unveiled 4. Performer in costumed mascot outfit bumping fists with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye 5. SOUNDBITE (French) Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegalese President: "I am pleased with the participatory and inclusive approach that the Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee has adopted in selecting the mascot for the Dakar 2026 YOG by organizing a national competition launched several months ago across all the academic institutions in the country. This method reflects the vision of an event driven by youth, designed with them and for them." 6. Promo video for mascot "Ayo"