Hamid Alhasani, a young Omani swimmer, has been introduced as the flag bearer for the Sultanate of Oman at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The ceremony will take place on Saturday at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, a modern city located about 30 kilometers from Dakar. The stadium, with a capacity of 55,000, will welcome athletes, officials, and guests from around the world and celebrate the official start of the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Details of the Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony will begin at 18:30 local time (22:30 Oman time), and it is expected that Senegal's President, Macky Sall, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, will be special guests at the event. Hamid Alhasani, representing Oman in swimming, will have the honor of leading the national delegation during the athletes' parade. His selection as flag bearer adds special significance to his first appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, before competing in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.
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Members of the Omani Delegation and Preparation Challenges
The Omani delegation at this event includes Eng. Khalfan bin Saleh Al-Nabi, a member of the board of the Oman Olympic Committee and head of the delegation, as well as Hassan bin Ali bin Hamid Al-Badi, Oman’s ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, and representatives from the Omani embassy in Dakar. This delegation also includes members of the administrative and medical teams prepared to support the athletes.
The opening ceremony is expected to last approximately 90 minutes, with a program designed to celebrate Senegalese identity and the rich cultural diversity of Africa. Organizers are preparing a grand production featuring around 11,000 artists, including 700 dancers, who will combine music, dance, and visual performances.
Under the official slogan “Africa Welcomes You, Dakar Celebrates,” the ceremony aims to showcase Africa’s cultural heritage and its vision for the future to a global audience. French actor Omar Sy, who serves as the ambassador for Dakar 2026, has also lent his voice to the event, describing youth as a source of light and hope.
Swimming Training Challenges
Meanwhile, Oman’s swimming preparations were affected by the decision of the organizing committee for Dakar 2026 to cancel the training session on the morning of Friday, October 30, due to high water temperature assessments. This cancellation was communicated to representatives of the National Olympic Committee and delegation leaders as a precautionary measure, and organizers emphasized that the health and safety of athletes are their top priority. They also reviewed operational arrangements and additional precautions before resuming training.
The cancellation disrupted Hamid Alhasani's morning training schedule under his Algerian coach, Mohamed Bougra. Instead, the coaching team decided to use the available time for physical training and conditioning to maintain the swimmer's readiness before the two freestyle events. Hamid is set to compete in the 400m freestyle on Sunday and then in the 800m freestyle on Tuesday at the Toureaux Lof Complex.
Oman will also be represented in taekwondo and fencing as the competition schedule continues. Zaid bin Ali Al-Balushi will compete in the men's under 48 kg weight category on November 8 at the Iba Mar Diop Complex in Dakar. Fencer Jana Al-Sharji will conclude Oman’s participation by competing in the women's individual event on November 10 at the Dakar Exhibition in Diamniadio.
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