[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] SamsungElectronics(005930)is officially sponsoring the “2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games,” the first Olympic event to be held on the African continent. The company is introducing “Victory Selfies” using Galaxy smartphones for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games and applying mobile technology to live broadcasts of the competitions and athlete experience programs.
SamsungElectronics announced that it will participate in the “2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games,” taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, as the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) official partner for wireless communications.
Approximately 2,700 youth athletes will compete in 25 sports at this event. This marks the first time the Olympics will be held on the African continent.
SamsungElectronics will introduce the Olympic “Victory Selfie” program at this event for the first time in Youth Olympic history. The Victory Selfie is a program where athletes take photos themselves using Galaxy smartphones while on the podium during medal ceremonies.
Galaxy smartphones will also be used for live broadcasts. In the skateboarding and taekwondo events, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be used alongside traditional broadcast cameras to capture footage from the competition venues.
A “Samsung Open Station” will also be operated in the Athletes’ Village. This is a space where participating athletes can interact with athletes from other countries while experiencing Galaxy products and features.
The Open Station will host programs such as the “Victory Wall,” “Victory Talk,” and “Victory Photo Zone.” At the Victory Wall, participants can use Galaxy AI to create Olympic-themed photos.
“Victory Talk” is a program where participating athletes record videos sharing their experiences in Dakar and messages they’d like to convey to their future selves. These videos will be preserved as part of the athletes’ records through the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics.
A mentoring program for youth athletes called “Beyond the Medal” will also be offered. Role model athletes selected by the IOC will participate to provide advice to young athletes on their athletic careers and personal growth.
Choi Seung-eun, Vice President and Head of the Mobile Marketing Center at SamsungElectronics’ MX Business Division, said, “The Youth Olympic Games are an important stage where young athletes discover their potential and grow for the future.” She added, “Through innovative wireless technology experiences, SamsungElectronics will support the next generation of promising athletes so they can take on challenges, learn, and fully enjoy life’s special moments.”
SamsungElectronics began its Olympic sponsorship as a local sponsor for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Since then, it has participated as an official IOC partner starting with the Nagano Winter Olympics and expanded its sponsorship scope to include the Youth Olympics beginning in 2010.
In addition, the company has provided the “Galaxy Olympic Edition” to participating athletes at a total of seven Olympic Games, including the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
