IOC/Dakar 2026 YOG: "Being in Paris was very beneficial for us" (Ibrahima Wade)

"Being here in Paris (FRA) was very beneficial because we had the opportunity to see on-the-ground how they deliver the Games, but more importantly, how they (the Organising Committee) planned it very precisely. We got the opportunity to discuss with them how we accelerate our own planning. And, of course, when we go back to Dakar in the coming days, we are going to accelerate the process of delivering the Games by finalising all our plans," said Ibrahima Wade, general coordinator of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 (for athletes aged 15 to 18), on the IOC website, 16/08/2024.

Senegal became the first country on the African continent to be designated host of an Olympic event at the 133^rd IOC Session held in Buenos Aires (ARG) on 08/10/2018. Initially scheduled for 2022, this fourth edition of the YOG will be held in 2026 in three Senegalese cities (Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly), from 31/10 to 13/11/2026. 239 events are on the programme for these YOG: 11 mixed team events, 114 men's events and 114 women's events.

"In Paris, we had the…