With seven months to go until the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Dakar is transforming into a veritable sports construction site. For the first global Olympic event of such magnitude on the African continent, work is accelerating to prepare the competition venues and welcome the athletes in the best possible conditions.
On Friday, a press visit allowed visitors to observe the progress of work on several emblematic sites. From the Tour de l'Oeuf multi-sports complex, where the swimming pool is being renovated, to the Iba Mar Diop stadium, future venue for athletics events, Dakar's sporting landscape is being reshaped.
According to Ibrahima Wade, coordinator of the Youth Olympic Games organizing committee: "As for the sites where we had to carry out construction and renovation work, today we are truly on a very, very good trajectory. It's pressure, a lot of pressure, but we know that the final objective is worth it."
While the equestrian center is being equipped with a seated grandstand, the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, the usual home of the national football team with its 50,000 seats, will host the opening ceremony. Thierno Cissé, deputy director in charge of operations, emphasizes the importance of this legacy: “We really wanted to raise the standards in terms of sports infrastructure in Africa. It’s important to show that Senegal can make the most of its existing facilities without starting from scratch for each competition venue.”
The success of Dakar 2026 represents a major challenge not only for Senegal but for the entire African continent. Humphrey Kayange, president of the Dakar 2026 Coordination Commission at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), emphasizes: “The success of these Games will leave a considerable legacy and have a major impact. It will benefit the athletes, whose enthusiasm is fueled by their participation in the Olympic Games, but also human capital: thanks to the training academy, young professionals will be able to remain on the continent and be fully capable of hosting these Games.”
While public enthusiasm remains difficult to gauge, the countdown has begun. Everything must be ready for October 31st, the opening date of the Games, turning the construction sites into a veritable race against time.
