The “Africa Forward” summit, a joint initiative by France and Kenya taking place this Monday in Nairobi, is set to explore how sports can drive regional development. This ambitious goal is particularly relevant for Sénégal, as the nation gears up to host the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar later this year.
“Sénégal will be ready,” officials declare with confidence as the countdown enters its final six months. Scheduled from October 31 to November 13, the Dakar 2026 event marks a monumental milestone: it is the first time an Olympic competition will be held on the African continent. Originally planned for 2022 but delayed by the global pandemic, these 4th Summer YOG are now a top priority for Ahmadou al-Aminou Lo, who oversees the national transformation agenda.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Dakar 2026 games will welcome approximately 2,700 international athletes, all aged 17 or younger. The program features 25 competitive sports and 10 “engagement” sports for demonstration, totaling 153 events split across masculine, feminine, and mixed categories.
Ahmadou al-Aminou Lo, a former director at the BCEAO, now leads a dedicated monitoring committee. This group ensures that all state and local entities meet strict deadlines. “Our mission is to eliminate any obstacles to the delivery of the Games,” he explains. “We must ensure our institutions are agile. This event is about the reputation of Sénégal and Africa as a whole. We are under pressure to prove we can host world-class sporting events.”
The quest for urban excellence and cleanliness
Beyond logistics and security, Dakar is focusing on its urban environment. Authorities are launching a major sanitation drive to improve the city’s waste management systems. “Our first gold medal must be for cleanliness,” Lo remarks, citing Kigali in Rwanda as the benchmark for African urban maintenance.
A strategic partnership with France
The YOG presence is already visible across Dakar, from the Plateau district to the highway leading to Blaise-Diagne International Airport. A key component of this preparation is the Alliance Dioko, a partnership established in 2019 between the organizing committees of Paris 2024 and Dakar 2026. This collaboration facilitates the exchange of expertise in areas like security and volunteer recruitment.
Christine Fages, the French Ambassador to Sénégal, highlights that thirty experts from the Paris games have joined the Dakar team. Furthermore, over 400 local youths have been trained through a specialized “Learning Academy.” Financial support has also been significant, with an 80 million euro loan from the AFD (French Development Agency) funding the renovation of the Iba-Mar-Diop Stadium and the Tour de l’Oeuf complex.
Modernizing infrastructure at Point E
The Tour de l’Oeuf site in the Point E neighborhood is currently a hub of activity. Construction led by Sogea-Satom is focused on the Olympic pool and diving facilities. This venue will also host 3×3 basketball, breaking, skateboarding, and baseball. While there have been minor delays, a major water-filling test is scheduled for mid-May, with the final keys expected to be handed over by August 15.
The long-term goal for Sénégal is the legacy of these facilities. With half the population under the age of 19, the government views the YOG as a catalyst for the Sénégal 2050 plan. By developing sports-study excellence centers and boosting the “MICE” (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry, the country aims to significantly increase the sports sector’s contribution to the national GDP.
