The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (JOJ) is making a bold commitment: to host a plastic pollution-free event. This ambitious pledge comes from the Dakar 2026 organizing committee and the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal, backed by the significant support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Several fundamental principles will guide these historic Youth Olympic Games. Organizers are focused on significantly reducing single-use plastics, enhancing waste sorting and collection systems across all event venues, and actively raising awareness among athletes, spectators, and local communities. Furthermore, a key objective is to mobilize governmental institutions, the private sector, and civil society to collectively build a lasting environmental legacy for Senegal.

The organizing committee for Dakar 2026 expressed optimism, stating that this initiative will position « Dakar 2026 as a benchmark for sustainable sporting events » and substantially contribute to Senegal’s transition towards a circular plastics economy. Fatou Leigh, the acting Resident Representative for UNDP Senegal, elaborated on this vision: « We are not merely launching an environmental project. We are initiating an ambition: to demonstrate through the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games that a major international event can indeed accelerate the shift towards a more responsible and sustainable circular economy. »

Aliou Gory Diouf, the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, emphasized the profound significance of the event for the nation. « The Youth Olympic Games represent an exceptional opportunity for us, » he remarked. « We aim to prove that Senegal possesses the capability to organize the first Olympic event in African history, while simultaneously forging an environmental legacy as impactful as its sporting one. Our aspiration extends beyond the duration of the Games. We envision that the responsible behaviors adopted during this occasion will become a deeply ingrained cultural practice. »

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst