[Coventry, Dakar 2026청소년올림픽을 정체성의 축제로 만들다(Coventry turns Dakar 2026 into a celebration of identity)]
11월1일자 외신기사내용 정리하여 공유합니다.
다카르 2026 청소년올림픽 개회식에서 Coventry IOC 위원장이 아프리카의 첫 올림픽 개최를 기념하며 정체성과 청년들의 자신감을 강조했다고 합니다..
아프리카가 청소년올림픽을 통해 처음으로 올림픽 개최 대열에 합류하면서, IOC 위원장은 개막식 연설에서 자신의 뿌리에 대한 자부심과 젊은 선수들의 자기 믿음을 핵심 메시지로 삼았습니다(With Africa making its debut as an Olympic host through the Youth Games, the IOC president placed pride in her roots and young athletes' self-belief at the heart of her address during the multi-sport event's opening ceremony)
[아프리카 첫 올림픽 개최]
-Dakar 2026 청소년올림픽은 아프리카 대륙 최초의 올림픽 이벤트.
-Coventry IOC 위원장, 개막식 연설에서 세네갈·아프리카의 역사적 의미 강조.
-“이 순간은 세네갈과 아프리카, 그리고 올림픽 운동 전체를 위한 것”이라고 선언.
[연설 주요 메시지]
1) 청년 중심: 선수뿐 아니라 세네갈 청년들의 아이디어·창의성·에너지가 대회를 만든 주체임을 강조 → “청년을 위한, 청년에 의한 올림픽”
“What makes these Games even more special is that young people have been at the heart of everything." The IOC president highlighted how the ideas, creativity and energy of that generation had helped shape the Games, stressing that the athletes were far from the only young people involved. "Not just young athletes, but the young people of Senegal who have helped bring these Games to life." She summed up their contribution by declaring, "These really are Games for the youth, by the youth!”
2) Teranga (환대 정신) 세네갈의 따뜻한 환영과 문화적 자부심을 세계와 공유.
3) 개인적 뿌리: “나는 자랑스러운 짐바브웨인, 아프리카 여성으로서 이 순간이 더욱 뜻 깊다.”
“It makes me incredibly proud to be standing here tonight. A proud Zimbabwean. And proud to be an African woman. And so proud that our continent is welcoming the Olympic Movement for the very first time.”
[선수들에게 전한 메시지]
-약 2,700명(14~17세) 참가 선수들에게 자신감·자기 믿음·큰 꿈을 강조.
-자신의 선수 경험을 바탕으로 “스포츠는 자신감을 주고 꿈을 크게 꾸게 한다”(Sport opened so many doors in my life. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself and to dream big)는 교훈 전달.
-결과뿐 아니라 우정·문화 교류·개인 성장의 기회로 삼을 것을 권유.
-“용기를 내라, 새로운 친구를 사귀고 서로 응원하며 즐겨라.” (Be brave. Make new friends. Get to know people from different countries. Cheer each other on. And have fun!)
[대회 프로그램]
-25개 종목, 153개 메달 이벤트 진행.
-다카르·, Diamniadio 와 Saly 에서 경기와 문화·교육 프로그램 병행.
-Singapore 2010, Nanjing 2014, Buenos Aires 2018에 이어 네 번째 청소년올림픽.
요약하면, Dakar 2026 개막식은 아프리카의 첫 올림픽 개최를 기념하는 역사적 순간으로, Coventry IOC위원장은 청년·문화·정체성·자신감을 핵심 메시지로 삼아 선수들과 세계에 영감을 주었습니다.
[Coventry turns Dakar 2026 into a celebration of identity]
With Africa making its debut as an Olympic host through the Youth Games, the IOC president placed pride in her roots and young athletes' self-belief at the heart of her address during the multi-sport event's opening ceremony.
Eight years after Dakar was selected as host city at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Kirsty Coventry opened her speech on Saturday at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio by reflecting on how an occasion long anticipated within the Olympic Movement had finally become a reality.
"For years, we have talked about this moment. The first Olympic sporting event on African soil. And now – here we are!" she declared. "This historic moment is for Senegal and for Africa. And for our entire Olympic Movement."
Having emphasised the significance of that milestone, Coventry acknowledged the collective effort that had made it possible, thanking the Senegalese government, the organising committee and the people who had given the athletes such a warm welcome. She also recognised the contribution of the Olympic partners and media rights holders in sharing the spirit of the Games around the world, while paying particular tribute to the volunteers and young Senegalese people whose involvement she regarded as one of the defining features of this edition.
"What makes these Games even more special is that young people have been at the heart of everything." The IOC president highlighted how the ideas, creativity and energy of that generation had helped shape the Games, stressing that the athletes were far from the only young people involved. "Not just young athletes, but the young people of Senegal who have helped bring these Games to life." She summed up their contribution by declaring, "These really are Games for the youth, by the youth!"
Coventry then turned to Senegal's warm welcome and the spirit of teranga, the Wolof word for hospitality. "You have opened your arms and hearts to the world. This is the spirit of teranga." She expressed her hope that visitors would enjoy their stay and discover Senegal's culture and creativity, which she saw as reflecting a side of Africa she was particularly proud to share with the world. "This is the Africa that I am so proud and so excited for the world to experience,"she continued.
What had until then been a tribute to the host nation took on a more personal dimension as Coventry spoke of her own roots and what it meant to her to witness such an occasion. "It makes me incredibly proud to be standing here tonight. A proud Zimbabwean. And proud to be an African woman. And so proud that our continent is welcoming the Olympic Movement for the very first time." Her pride in the historic sporting milestone was thus closely bound up with her African identity.
From there, she turned her attention to the approximately 2,700 athletes aged 14 to 17 taking part in Dakar 2026, urging them to pause for a moment and appreciate how much they had already achieved before competing.
She reminded them of the early mornings, the long hours of training and the people who had supported them along the way, acknowledging the nerves she remembered from her own days as an athlete. "And I know how you're feeling right now. Excited? A little nervous? Maybe a lot nervous? I remember that feeling!"
Drawing on her sporting career, Coventry explained what she hoped the young athletes would take away from the experience. "Sport opened so many doors in my life. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself and to dream big," she said. She went on to express her hope that the Games would help participants discover what they were capable of achieving. "I hope these Games give you confidence to believe in yourselves. To dream big. And to do things you never thought possible."
Beyond sporting results, the Games programme also offers opportunities for personal development and cultural exchange, with educational and cultural activities alongside 153 medal events across 25 sports, taking place until 13 November in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. Following Singapore 2010, Nanjing 2014 and Buenos Aires 2018, this fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games gives athletes from different countries the chance to get to know one another, an aspect Coventry was keen to highlight.
As her speech drew to a close, she therefore encouraged them to make the most of the opportunity to forge friendships and support one another, while giving their all and enjoying the experience. "Be brave. Make new friends. Get to know people from different countries. Cheer each other on. And have fun!"
After urging participants and spectators to make every moment count — "To everybody watching and competing, Let's make every moment count!" — she invited Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to declare the Games officially open.
*References:
-insidethegames
-IOC website
Posted by 윤강로 (Rocky YOON)
