Ibrahima Wade (COJOJ Dakar 2026): "Senegal is ready, and so are the member countries of the community."

At the ECOWAS Regional Forum of Ambassadors and Presidents of National Olympic Committees, organized in the lead-up to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the General Coordinator of the Organizing Committee (COJOJ), Ibrahima Wade, expressed his confidence in the ability of Senegal and the community to successfully host the Dakar 2026 Olympic Games.

"Senegal is ready, the member countries of the community are ready for this unprecedented event," he assured, calling for strong mobilization of West African youth around this first edition of the Youth Olympic Games organized on the African continent.

Beyond the sporting competition, the organizers aim to make the Games a true catalyst for regional integration, economic development, and youth empowerment. Ibrahima Wade welcomed the support of ECOWAS and emphasized the need for active youth involvement. Young people should not only be present as athletes, but also as volunteers, members of organizing teams, and spectators.

"This requires strong involvement from the youth of our countries, not only as athletes, but also to put our hands to work on the project we are building together as members of the organizing committee, as volunteers and as spectators. To you, representatives of the national committees of our community space, we extend our hand as the organizing committee for exemplary participation. We already know that with the support of Olympic solidarity, many young people nominated by your national Olympic committees have now joined the COJOJ and are contributing to the preparation of this unprecedented event," said Ibrahima Wade.

With the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games just months away, mobilization is intensifying within the West African community. Gathering to discuss the socio-economic, sporting, and diplomatic implications of this event, ambassadors and presidents of National Olympic Committees from ECOWAS countries exchanged ideas on how to make this first Olympic Games held in Africa a collective success.

An event that goes beyond sport

Presiding over the Forum's opening ceremony, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Djireye Clotilde Coly, emphasized the strategic importance of the event. According to her, Senegal intends to make the Youth Olympic Games a "showcase of economic and social opportunities," a platform for young athletes to shine, and a tool for sports diplomacy to amplify Africa's voice.

This ambition therefore goes beyond the scope of competitions. The Youth Olympic Games must also promote young talent in the artistic, cultural and technological fields, while consolidating the values of peace, solidarity, tolerance and cultural exchange.

"You will agree with me that the success of these Youth Olympic Games must go beyond the purely organizational, sporting, and competitive aspects. It must also be measured in terms of tangible and intangible impacts, through an infrastructure system aligned with international standards, but also and above all through improved sports governance, capacity building for our young people, and the promotion of social and territorial inclusion. This is the whole point of the program to establish local infrastructure, which will help to correct territorial disparities in the geographical distribution of our sports and cultural facilities," the minister emphasized.

The approach adopted by the Organizing Committee places particular emphasis on the training and integration of young people. Through the Learning Academy cohorts, young Africans are involved in organizing the Games to gain experience in managing an international sporting event. This initiative is part of a strategy to transfer skills and prepare a new generation of sports and event professionals.

ECOWAS at the heart of the dynamic

For the minister, ECOWAS's participation sends a strong signal in favor of regional integration. Discussions at the Forum focus on the legacy of the Youth Olympic Games, the role of sport in strengthening integration, sports diplomacy, West African mobilization, and prospects for collaboration among member states. They also address the challenges of clean, safe, and ethical sport.

"These exchanges are part of the continuity of community policies and programs initiated by our various member states in response to the current challenges of peace, cross-border stability, security and the free movement of people, goods, services and capital... These interactions are an opportunity for these young people from the sub-region, Africa and the world to share and promote the values of peace, solidarity, acceptance of others, inter-community tolerance and cultural exchange," the minister insisted.

This regional dimension aligns with Senegal's stated objective of making the Youth Olympic Games an event whose impact extends beyond the competition venues. The country is working specifically on building a legacy infrastructure and developing local sports facilities to reduce territorial disparities.

Sport is thus destined to become a tool for social cohesion and development. The infrastructure work for the Youth Olympic Games has already generated significant employment opportunities, while multi-purpose local sports fields are being deployed in several areas.

Beyond infrastructure, Senegal also intends to leave a human and civic legacy. The Olympic, Civic and Sports Certificate (BOCS) is one of the initiatives designed to strengthen civic engagement, active citizenship, and leadership among young people.

For the Senegalese authorities, the success of the Youth Olympic Games cannot be measured solely by the quality of the organization or sporting performances. It must also translate into improved sports governance, capacity building for young people, social and territorial inclusion, and increased cooperation among the states of the sub-region. The date is now set: Africa will host its first Olympic event, and Senegal intends to make it a lasting legacy for its youth.