04 February 2024 - The Senegalese capital Dakar is celebrating 1,000 days to go until the Winter Youth Olympics Dakar 2026 (YOG). The event holds historical significance as it will be the first Olympic event to be held on African soil.
As Dakar prepares to welcome the world’s best youth athletes, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC) is aiming to create a positive impact for young people throughout the host nation and the African continent.
“We are just 1000 days away from the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. It's an important moment, a symbolic date,” said Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of the YOGOC.
“It's important because we're just 1000 days away from welcoming the world to come and celebrate with us, with the youth of Africa, with the youth of the world, with the youth of Senegal, this high point of a first Olympic event on African soil. The real countdown has now started and we're looking forward to welcoming the whole world.”
With 1,000 days to go, progress continues to be made in planning and preparations for the YOG, with the renovation of the Iba Mar Diop stadium recently commencing, marking a significant step in infrastructure development for the Games. The refurbishment of the stadium is part of a broader initiative to ensure state-of-the-art facilities for Dakar 2026, which will rely mainly on existing and updated venues, ensuring a sustainable legacy for the YOG.
“Whether it's the Youth Games or the Olympic Games, you always build on previous experience,“ said Christophe Dubi, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director. “Above all we have to be able to repeat what was done so well at the Buenos Aires and Lausanne Games, the incredible commitment of the local populations, hundreds of thousands, even millions of people at the Buenos Aires Youth Games.”
“Of course, we'll have to adapt them to the local context, because the venues are not the same and the capacities are not the same, but the way things are done is identical, so we're starting from a good base,” added Mr Dubi.
The ongoing efforts to prepare the Games in Dakar have also included a comprehensive review of the sports programme, focusing on disciplines, events and athlete quotas. In addition, the YOGOC held a training seminar for Senegalese sports journalists in December, helping to equip local media with comprehensive knowledge of the plans for Dakar 2026.
“In today’s world it’s so important to find platforms and opportunities for young people to come together, share stories and to be inspired, to drive themselves, their economies, their communities forward, and I’m hoping that’s what this will do” said Kirsty Coventry, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
The YOG Dakar 2026 will take place for two weeks from 31 October, bringing together the world’s best young athletes. The Games will be held across three host sites (Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly), and aim to serve as a catalyst to transform Senegal through sport, while becoming a blueprint for future YOG hosts.
