Ben Amed Azize Zougmore
11th May 2026
Update: 11th May 2026
AA / Istanbul / Ben Amed Azize Zougmore
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated on Monday that the 2026 Youth Olympics will be “an African event” with a lasting legacy in terms of infrastructure, social cohesion, and organizational expertise, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for sports to be a driver of growth, education, and development for the continent.
Speaking at a panel on sports and development in Nairobi, organized by Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, Bassirou Diomaye Faye emphasized that Dakar will host an Olympic competition of this scale for the first time in Africa.
“It is Africa that hosts, but it is Dakar that shines,” declared the Senegalese head of state, emphasizing that the event should promote “the values of fraternity, tolerance, and peace” associated with the Olympic movement.
The Senegalese President noted that investments made for the Games, particularly in renovating and building centralized sports facilities in various districts of the country, are already strengthening “social cohesion” and democratizing sports.
He mentioned that the ongoing organizational efforts involve “nearly 1,000 to 2,000 people,” and the event will leave a dual legacy, both in terms of infrastructure and human development, thanks to the expertise gained during preparations.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye also thanked France for their “perfect collaboration” in the Games’ organization, especially in terms of security, and called on “African youth and women” to come to Dakar to celebrate “this African and global sports festival.”
During the same panel, Emmanuel Macron stated that Africa is at “a decisive moment” with the successive organization of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and the 2030 World Cup in Morocco.
“There is no continent that will host as many major sports events in the coming years as the African continent,” affirmed the French President.
Emmanuel Macron presented sports as a tool for empowerment and integration for youth, as well as “the best prevention policy” in public health.
“We learn from young people rules, discipline, self-confidence,” he stated, believing that sports can facilitate access to education and employment.
The French head of state also emphasized the need to enhance African sports infrastructure, mentioning projects supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and various international partners.
He pointed out that over 400 sports projects have been developed in around fifty African countries in recent years, including the construction of fields and facilities for football, basketball, and athletics.
Emmanuel Macron also advocated for a better structuring of the sports economy on the continent, lamenting that African talents are often “too often valued elsewhere.”
“Among the best athletes in the world (…) and they are involved in other championships, in other competitions. This is not good for the African continent,” he said, calling for the development of a more job-creating and locally enriching African sports industry.
