20 mars 2025 - À moins de deux ans des quatrièmes Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse (JOJ) d'été, le comité d'organisation de Dakar 2026 a présenté son dernier rapport d'avancement à la 144e Session du Comité International Olympique (CIO). Le rapport a mis en exergue les principaux développements dans les préparatifs de l'organisation du premier événement sportif olympique sur le sol africain. Le rapport souligne notamment les progrès réalisés dans la construction et la rénovation de sites, le développement des effectifs et l'enthousiasme grandissant autour des initiatives de mobilisation des jeunes à travers le Sénégal.
A major highlight was the successful delivery of the third edition of the Dakar en Jeux Festival in November 2024. The celebration of sport, culture and education saw thousands of young people engaged in sporting activities across the three host communities of Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, while also featuring an international U16 3x3 basketball tournament and health workshops for local children. Plans are already underway for the next edition in late 2025, which will coincide with the “One Year to Go” milestone and serve as an important testing opportunity for the YOG.
S'exprimant au sujet de l'engouement suscité par les JOJ de Dakar 2026, le président du comité d'organisation des JOJ de Dakar 2026 (COJOJ), Mamadou Ndiaye, a confié pour sa part : "Le Sénégal a l’honneur, au nom de l’Afrique, d’accueillir le monde pour les premiers Jeux Olympiques organisés sur le continent. Notre démarche s’inscrit, depuis le départ, dans une dynamique d’inclusion et de partage. Cette dimension inclusive, inspirée par notre slogan ‘l’Afrique accueille, Dakar célèbre’, transparait à toutes les étapes de la préparation."
The Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC) is also continuing to strengthen its workforce by incorporating valuable knowledge from the Olympic Games Paris 2024, where staff members were able to gain first-hand experience in the planning and execution of a major international sports event. The YOGOC is also expanding its team, with recruitment efforts bolstered by the newly launched Learning Academy. This initiative will train up to 400 young professionals, equipping them with essential skills to support the delivery of the Dakar 2026 YOG, while creating a lasting legacy of experienced event organisers in Senegal and across Africa.
Infrastructure preparations for the YOG remain on track, with refurbishment work launched at key venues in Dakar and construction progressing at the equestrian centre and the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio. The completed venue master plan includes a total of seven competition venues across the three host zones. Additionally, Dakar 2026 has strengthened its commercial programme, announcing its first domestic sponsorship deal with telecommunications company Sonatel.
Excitement for the Games is also growing with the launch of the mascot design process, which saw nearly 500 schoolchildren from across Senegal take part in a nationwide competition. The official mascot is set to be unveiled in June 2025 to mark 500 days to go until the Games.
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.
