By Xinhua writers Ding Wenxian, Gao Jianfei and Wang Qi
DAKAR, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- In November, temperatures in Dakar, Senegal often climb above 30 degrees Celsius. Yet even under the scorching sun, yellow-shirted volunteers can be seen tirelessly working at venues and around the city during the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The Dakar Youth Olympic volunteer program, "Jambaar26," takes its name from the Wolof word for "hero," referring to ordinary people who step forward to serve others and lead by example.
A total of 6,000 volunteers, selected from around 23,000 applicants, are serving at the Games with an average age of 28.6 years. Some 5,233 are Senegalese, while 92.7 percent come from across Africa.
"Ni hao!" A greeting in Chinese caught the reporter's attention while passing a souvenir stand at the Games. It came from Asma Gassama, a local university student majoring in international relations who helps distribute souvenirs to visitors.
Gassama said she was delighted to contribute to the Games being held in her hometown. She hopes the event will introduce more people to Senegalese cuisine and the country's warm and outgoing people.
She began learning Chinese 18 months ago, seeing opportunities in a country where Chinese interpreters are in short supply despite the presence of many Chinese companies.
"I started by going to the Confucius Institute here on the ground. And then, I practice every day, and learned a lot by working with Chinese people," she said.
The volunteer team includes both newcomers and seasoned veterans. Catherine Nadon, 37, a French teacher at an international school in Canada, previously volunteered at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. "After that I got addicted to volunteering at the Olympic Games," she said.
In Dakar, Nadon helps coordinate volunteers at the table tennis training hall. Over the years, she has made friends from around the world through sporting events.
"We appreciate every culture. It's nice. We open our minds to other cultures and become international friends," she said.
At 33, Lin Hailu is another experienced volunteer, and one of several Chinese faces among the Games' volunteer team.
Based at the Dakar Exhibition Center, Lin oversees services at the rest area for referees and technical officials. Since the 2016 Rio Olympics, he has volunteered at six Olympic events. When recruitment for the Dakar Youth Olympics opened, he signed up immediately, completing two online training sessions before arriving in Dakar for on-site training.
His interactions with local volunteers have been among his most memorable experiences. "Many people are pleasantly surprised to hear that I'm from China. They are very interested in the country," he said.
He also visited an exhibition area set up by Chinese companies to learn how Chinese technologies and products were supporting the Games. "I felt really proud when other volunteers told me how comfortable clothes from Chinese brands were," he said.
Lin works for a tourism and resort group and had to arrange leave in advance to volunteer overseas. He has also continued to handle some work remotely during the Games.
"Passion makes all the challenges worthwhile," he said. "I may not be able to compete for medals as an athlete, but through volunteering, I can show people the dedication of Chinese volunteers."
Beyond their volunteer duties, each has a different story to tell.
"I've been involved in sports all my life," said 40-year-old Ukrainian volunteer Tamuz Hidir, a former floorball player and coach who also served as president of the Ukrainian Floorball Federation. He has also traveled to China three times to conduct coaching programs.
At the Games, Hidir assists two National Olympic Committees at the Youth Olympic Village. Before the Games, he also helped prepare accommodation for athletes and delegations.
"I wanted to come here because I know it's the first time Africa hosts a big Olympic event. Plus this is so different from Europe, and I was sure it would be wonderful," he said.
"My dream is to travel around the world," said 27-year-old Chinese volunteer Sun Shiyi. Senegal is the 32nd country she has visited on her backpacking journey.
After leaving a stable job in search of a more adventurous life, Sun now works mainly in accommodation services at the Youth Olympic Village and occasionally interprets for the Chinese team. Though much of the work involves routine tasks, she enjoys the experience, especially the energy and enthusiasm of the young athletes.
"Some people think it's crazy to travel so far at my own expense just to volunteer. But this experience has enriched me, broadened my horizons and helped me grow, while also benefiting my future career," she said.
Working at the Games also offers Sun a chance to explore a possible career in international sporting events and see firsthand how major competitions are organized.
All the volunteers interviewed recognized the significance of the Games not only for the Olympic movement and Senegal, but also for the African continent as a whole.
Gassama hopes the event will help more people discover Senegal's "Teranga spirit," a tradition of hospitality, generosity and warmth that welcomes everyone.
Nadon acknowledged the challenges of hosting an event of this scale in Africa, but praised the friendliness and eagerness to learn of the local people. "I'm very proud of the Senegalese people. I think it's going to be great for the competitions," she said.
Lin described the Dakar Youth Olympics as a unique event with a distinctly African character.
"This is home turf for the whole of Africa," he said. "You can see so many local children watching the competitions. Perhaps the seeds of sport and a desire to explore the wider world are already taking root in their hearts." ■
