Dakar gears up to host first youth olympic games in africa
Dakar faces a pivotal moment as it prepares to host the upcoming youth olympic games (yog) in october 2026. this historic event marks africa’s first olympic competition, placing immense pressure on the city’s infrastructure, security, and cleanup efforts. with less than six months until the games, officials are working tirelessly to ensure a flawless execution.
the yog, initially scheduled for 2022 but postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic, will welcome 2,700 young athletes under 18 across 25 competitive sports and 10 demonstration events. the games will run from october 31 to november 13, featuring 153 events—73 for men, 73 for women, and 7 mixed.
the role of ahmadou al-aminou lo in the yog
ahmadou al-aminou lo, Senegal’s minister of state for the Senegal 2050 transformation agenda, is at the helm of the yog’s organizing committee. as the head of a monthly oversight task force, lo oversees the collaboration between state, local, and institutional actors to ensure deadlines are met. his responsibilities include:
- coordinating the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the yog preparations;
- acting as the quality assurance for the senegalese government’s role in the event;
- ensuring the country meets global standards for major sporting events.
lo emphasized the significance of this responsibility: «this is about Senegal’s and africa’s image. we must prove that we can organize world-class events with excellence and responsibility.»
safety and sustainability: priorities for the yog
Dakar’s preparations extend beyond event logistics. the city must also address cleanliness and waste management, critical factors for its 17th-place ranking in the african cleanest cities report. lo stated, «our first medal will be for cleanliness. we are implementing a battle plan to match kigali’s success, which ranked first in the continent.»
the yog’s venues are also being designed with sustainability in mind. the new olympic swimming pool, for example, incorporates water and energy-saving technologies. a test filling of the three pools is scheduled for may 15, with the venue expected to be handed over to the yog organizing committee by august 15.
France’s support in the yog preparations
France has played a key role in Senegal’s yog journey through the dioko alliance, a partnership established in 2019 between the french and senegalese organizing committees. this collaboration includes:
- sharing best practices in volunteer recruitment, security, and event management;
- training 419 young people in the learning academy to develop skills in sports event organization;
- providing a €1 million fund to support the renovation of facilities like the iba mar diop stadium and the tour de l’œuf complex, which houses the olympic pool;
- allocating a €80 million sovereign loan from the french development agency (afd) to upgrade sports infrastructure.
christine fages, France’s ambassador to Senegal, highlighted the alliance’s impact: «organizing the Paris 2024 olympic games taught us the power of such events to unite people. we are committed to supporting Senegal in ensuring these yog are a success.»
renovations and upgrades in progress
major construction projects are underway in Dakar, including the renovation of the tour de l’œuf complex, which will host swimming, 3×3 basketball, baseball, breaking, and skateboarding events. more than 450 workers are involved in the site’s upgrades, which include tribune renovations and the installation of modern facilities. while slight delays have been reported, officials assure the public that safety remains a top priority.
the yog is more than just a sporting event for Senegal. it represents an opportunity to boost the country’s sports economy, which currently contributes only €15 million to the gdp. lo envisions doubling this contribution by leveraging the Senegal 2050 agenda, which focuses on youth development, sports excellence, and the mice industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
he stated, «we want the yog to serve as a catalyst for sports infrastructure and youth development. the goal is to build a sustainable legacy that benefits our young population, who make up more than half of Senegal’s population.»
a legacy for Senegal and africa
the yog is expected to leave a lasting impact on Senegal, including:
- the development of new sports facilities for public use after the games;
- enhanced training and education programs for young athletes;
- a strengthened sports industry contributing to economic growth;
- a boost to Senegal’s global image as a capable host of major international events.
as the countdown to october 2026 continues, Senegal is determined to showcase its ability to organize a world-class event while creating a positive legacy for generations to come.
