“Sénégal will be ready.” this firm declaration comes less than six months before the 4th summer youth olympic games (joy) in Dakar (october 31 – november 13). originally scheduled for 2022, the event was postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic. these games represent a historic milestone as the first olympic event ever held on african soil.

a dual challenge: organization and pride

Ahmadou al-aminou lo, Sénégal’s minister of state overseeing the 2050 transformation agenda, leads a “vigilance committee” meeting biweekly with all state and local actors involved. the minister emphasizes the dual pressure: delivering a world-class event while showcasing africa’s capabilities.

“this is about Sénégal’s and africa’s image”

– minister of state ahmadou al-aminou lo

lo explains: “our role is to eliminate all risks associated with delivering these games. we must ensure Sénégal’s state structures are agile and meet the deadline. i serve as the quality assurance for these preparations. these games represent a global event where we must demonstrate our ability to organize major sporting competitions.”

french partnership and infrastructure development

France and Sénégal signed a cooperation agreement in 2019, creating the alliance dioko to share best practices between the two organizing committees. this partnership includes knowledge transfer in volunteer recruitment, security, and event management.

fages adds: “organizing the Paris olympic games allowed us to witness the unifying power of such an event. in our partnership with Sénégal, 30 Paris 2024 experts joined the Dakar team. additionally, 419 young people were trained in the learning academy to acquire event organization skills and expertise across all facilities. an 80 million euro sovereign loan from the french development agency (afd) enabled the renovation of the ibra mar diop stadium and the tour de l’oeuf complex, which houses the olympic pool, along with the creation of twelve local sports facilities.”

The french embassy also supports the judo academy at the lycée lamine gueye in Dakar (233,000 euros over two years), funding renovations to the dormitory and dojo, and providing sports and medical support for sénégalaise judokas preparing for the games.

progress and challenges in pool construction

as of may 4, construction at the tour de l’oeuf complex in the point e district continues, with a slight delay compared to last year’s schedule. the site will host olympic pool, basketball 3×3, baseball, breaking, and skateboarding events. over 450 workers have been mobilized since the “upgrade” began, with no serious accidents reported.

A first full water test of the three pools, featuring “water and energy-saving technology”, is scheduled for may 15. the organizing committee will take possession on august 15, two and a half months before the competitions. some complex managers also participated in Paris 2024’s “observation program” to learn about event “legacy”.

legacy: beyond the games

lo emphasizes: “we want these games to spark change for our youth. this includes developing training programs, sports-study excellence centers, and promoting high-level competition. the sports sector is central to our Sénégal 2050 agenda.”

He continues: “currently, sports contribute only 15 million euros to Sénégal’s gdp. we aim to double this through the mce industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions). half of Sénégal’s population is under 19, so sports represent a major opportunity for economic and social development.”