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Dakar, Senegal, will host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games from 31 October to 13 November, marking the first Olympic event staged on the African continent.
The fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games is expected to feature 2,700 young athletes from around the world, while thousands of Senegalese have been trained for jobs related to the event.
Malick Diouf, head of the Prims agency and founder of the Dakar Sport Summit, said the Games would serve as a bridge to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and provide Senegalese federations with an opportunity to identify talent, train athletes and develop coaching and technical staff.
Diouf highlighted the development of new sports such as futsal and beach wrestling, noting that traditional beach wrestling—once practiced informally—has been formalised for the Games. He also mentioned wrestling as a national sport that will be showcased.
He added that the Youth Olympic Games will expose young athletes to international competition and the International Olympic Committee’s standards, preparing them for future world championships and Olympic Games.
Senegal has opted to use existing facilities for the event. The Iba Mar Diop athletics stadium has been refurbished, the Olympic swimming pool renovated, and the Olympic Village will be located at Amadou Mahtar Mbow University in Diamniadio.
Transport arrangements include the express regional train (TER) that connects Dakar to Diamniadio and the international airport, reducing traffic on the motorway and shortening travel times for athletes and spectators.
Financing for the Games has come from a mix of sources. The French Development Agency contributed to the renovation of key facilities, while the Senegalese state has provided additional funding. The First Lady’s foundation pledged 500 million CFA francs (about €763,000) to purchase entrance tickets for 200,000 schoolchildren, part of a broader initiative that includes fan zones, concerts, and cultural exhibitions across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
More than 3,000 young people have been trained and employed in direct or indirect roles for the event. Diouf noted that the challenge will be to redeploy these workers after the Games, with plans to place them within sports federations, conference centres, hotels and other sectors. He stressed the importance of building capacity to host major sporting events beyond the Youth Olympic Games.
Malick Diouf concluded that the Youth Olympic Games represent a significant step for Senegal and Africa, offering a platform to develop athletes, infrastructure and organisational expertise for future international competitions.
Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: RFI
