The Olympic flame for the Dakar Youth Games was lit in Athens, according to SFGATE. The lighting ceremony marks the run-up to what the outlet describes as Africa's first-ever Olympic event.
The flame was kindled in the Greek capital, the traditional home of the Olympic torch ceremony, SFGATE reports. The Games themselves are set for Dakar, Senegal.
The event is the Youth Games, an Olympic competition reserved for younger athletes. SFGATE's headline frames the Dakar edition as a first for the African continent, without giving further details on the ceremony or the competition schedule.
The report does not specify the date of the lighting ceremony beyond its Thursday publication, nor does it name the athletes or officials involved. It also does not say when the flame will arrive in Senegal or how many nations are expected to take part.
The lighting in Athens follows the longstanding practice of starting an Olympic torch relay on Greek soil. From there, the flame typically travels to the host city ahead of the opening ceremony.
For Dakar, the milestone places an Olympic event on African soil for the first time, per SFGATE. The scale of the Games, the venues and the full list of participating countries are not covered in the available reporting.
What to watch next: the flame's journey from Athens to Dakar and the opening of the Youth Games in Senegal.
