Inside Dakar 2026: How Galaxy Innovation Shaped the Athlete Experience

The Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 opened in Senegal on October 31, giving young athletes a defining stage to test their limits and grow on and off the field. As a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung Electronics has been a constant force behind that journey — bringing Galaxy technology to medal ceremonies, competition venues, and the Youth Olympic Village to help future Olympians make the most of their first global spotlight.

At Africa’s first Olympic sporting event, that commitment took shape across the podium, competition venues and the Youth Olympic Village. Athletes used Galaxy to capture their own celebrations on the podium, while Galaxy devices brought the action closer to fans through broadcast coverage. In the Village, the technology gave athletes ways to express themselves and make memories with new friends. Together, these experiences helped them capture, share, and connect throughout their time at the Games.

Capturing the Joy of a First Olympic Podium With Victory Selfie

Standing on the Olympic podium represents years of dedication and sacrifice. While that moment had traditionally been captured through official photography, the Olympic Victory Selfie had established a new tradition at the Olympic Games since its introduction at Paris 2024 — one where athletes captured the celebration using mobile devices.

At Dakar 2026, Samsung brought Victory Selfie to the Youth Olympic Games for the first time, letting young athletes standing on their first Olympic podium capture the emotion themselves. Captured with Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition device, these podium moments are being shared with family, friends, and supporters around the world.

Beyond the podium, Samsung also explored how Galaxy could bring fans closer to the competition itself. Galaxy S26 Ultra devices were integrated into skateboarding and taekwondo coverage, capturing dynamic perspectives alongside traditional broadcast cameras. Building on previous Games-time integrations, Dakar 2026 marked a step beyond ceremonial moments into fast-paced competition — testing how smartphones can complement production workflows.

Galaxy S26 Ultra was also used to create social content. Footage from skateboarding, gymnastics, and athletics was captured as a series of vertical videos optimized for social platforms and shared through IOC social channels, bringing the energy of the Games to athletes and fans.

“Our collaboration with Samsung at previous Olympic Games, including Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, has shown how mobile technology can bring new experiences to Olympic viewers. At Dakar 2026, we continued to build on this collaboration, with the integration of Galaxy S26 Ultra devices further demonstrating their potential value in our visual storytelling,” said Mark Wallace, Olympic Broadcasting Services Chief Production Officer. “The insights gained will help inform our ongoing exploration of innovative production ideas as we look ahead to LA28, where emerging technologies can further enrich Olympic coverage and create more immersive experiences for viewers.”

A Space for Athletes To Connect and Explore

While competition brought young athletes to Dakar 2026, the moments between events offered a chance to connect with people from different countries and cultures. Inside the Youth Olympic Village, Samsung Open Station gave them a place to step away from competition, express their creativity and build friendships through Galaxy technology.

Athletes created Olympic-themed characters and posters at the Victory Wall and captured memories with selfies at the Victory Photo Zone. At Victory Talk, they recorded video messages about their experiences in Dakar and their hopes for the future.

In the Community Lounge, athletes played mobile games, made personalized keychains, and explored Galaxy features through Galaxy Tips, finding natural ways to connect across nationalities and sports.

“I really enjoyed Samsung Open Station and how interactive it is. There are so many ways to make memories and create things to take back home,” said Team Cook Islands swimmer Alicia Story. “The Victory Wall was my favorite part because you can see all the different perspectives of athletes from across the world and how they create their characters and show their personalities.”

Two-time Olympic street skateboarding medalist and Paris 2024 Team Samsung Galaxy member Rayssa Leal visited Samsung Open Station as a Dakar 2026 Athlete Role Model and Global Ambassador, meeting young athletes and exploring the Galaxy experiences onsite.

Continuing Samsung’s Olympic Journey on the Road to the LA28 Games

Samsung will build on its experience at Dakar 2026 as it continues its technology collaborations toward the LA28 Games, helping athletes and fans connect more closely and share in the excitement of the Olympic Games.

“At Dakar 2026, we wanted Galaxy technology to be part of the moments young athletes would actually remember — whether they were competing, celebrating, meeting new people, or simply spending time together in the Village,” said Sophia Kim, Vice President and Head of Experience Marketing Group, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re proud to have supported this historic Games and to take what we learned in Dakar 2026 forward as we continue our Olympic journey toward the LA28 Games.”