00:04the countdown to dakar 2026 is being painted across senegal more than 50 senegalese painters
00:12graffiti artists and visual artists are taking part in the project replacing bare concrete with
00:20artwork inspired by sport and african culture the initiative known as yesal meaning to beautify
00:27is being led by the dakar 2026 organizing committee and senegalese urban artist madzo
00:35the content of the murals focuses on historical and cultural heritage as well as the sporting
00:41values of the youth olympic games so as a group of artists we try to translate that into imagery
00:47and share that artistic and sporting energy at the same time it was an opportunity for some
00:52artists who had never done this before to give it a try experienced artists and newcomers exchanged
00:59ideas about their different styles for those involved the murals are also an opportunity to
01:05leave a lasting mark on an event that goes beyond the competition itself i would say it gives me great
01:12pleasure as a graffiti artist having the chance to participate in this way in the first youth olympic
01:18games to be held on african soil in my own country senegal it is truly priceless to me the murals
01:26are
01:26designed not only to celebrate the young athletes arriving for dakar 2026 but also to present senegal's
01:34artistic and cultural identity to an international audience it's beautiful we can see dakar getting a
01:42makeover and that's what we dakar citizens have always wanted we will be very proud to showcase our
01:48artistic talent through these murals during the olympic games from competition venues to transport hubs
01:56the yesel project is turning the build-up to dakar 2026 into a celebration of art sport and identity
