Swimmers Yulya Anne Bonnici and Samuel Camilleri led Team Malta into the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, carrying the Maltese flag as Senegal became the first African country to host an Olympic event.

The Games opened on Saturday, 31 October, at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio and run until 13 November. Young athletes representing more than 200 National Olympic Committees are competing in 25 sports across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Bonnici was first on Malta’s schedule with the 100m freestyle on Monday, 2 November. She is also entered in the 50m freestyle on Wednesday and the 200m freestyle on Friday.

Camilleri is scheduled to contest the 400m freestyle on Tuesday and the 200m butterfly on Friday. He was also entered in the 800m freestyle, but the International Olympic Committee removed the event from the programme after reviewing athlete safety and wellbeing. Andria Friggieri is accompanying the two swimmers.

Malta’s chef de mission, Johanna Grech, praised the welcome the delegation received in Senegal and said both swimmers had settled in well. “Yulya and Sam are settled, well prepared and looking forward to racing,” she said.

The rest of the Maltese delegation is due to arrive later this week. Maltese Olympic Committee director of sport Charlene Attard will travel with artistic gymnast Janet Galea and track and field athletes Nick Bonett and Matthew Azzopardi. Nataliya Berehova will support Galea, while Tiziana Zammit will coach Bonett and Azzopardi.