Chinese technology is helping deliver a smarter and more interactive experience at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which opened on October 31 in Senegal, marking the first Olympic event to be held on African soil.

At the opening ceremony, 100 young people from around the world took part in a virtual African drumming performance, using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create the illusion of playing drums together. Supported by Chinese AI large models, the system generated short videos of participants drumming based on a single personal photo, adding a new dimension to the cultural showcase.

The technology has also been introduced at interactive experience zones, where visitors can generate videos of themselves wearing traditional Senegalese costumes and celebrating with drums, as well as receive personalised commemorative cards.

Beyond the visitor experience, a dedicated cloud computing platform developed by the Chinese technical team is supporting ticketing, electronic visas, competition management and information services, helping ensure the smooth operation of the Games.