By Yunus S Saliu
With just over 200 days to go, Senegal is intensifying preparations to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) across Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
The eighth meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission was held on 25-26 March in Dakar, marking the transition to the final delivery phase. The meeting brought together IOC officials, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC), and local authorities for two days of discussions and venue inspections.
The Coordination Commission noted strong progress in all areas of planning. Competition schedules have been finalized in collaboration with International Federations, and the ticketing programme is set to launch soon. Key venues, including Complexe Tour de l’Œuf, Complexe Iba Mar Diop, and the Equestrian Centre, are nearing completion in April.
Preparations for the Chefs de Mission seminar, scheduled in Dakar on 9-10 April, are underway to bring together representatives from National Olympic Committees.
Workforce development is advancing, supported by the Learning Academy. The volunteer programme, Jambaar26, has received over 14,000 applications from 115 countries for 6,000 roles, with interviews currently ongoing.
Coordination Commission Chair Humphrey Kayange highlighted the progress, saying the project “has moved from vision to reality” and emphasized the importance of the upcoming months for delivery.
Dakar 2026 places young people at the center of the Games. Through the “Jeunesse en Jeux” initiative, up to 300,000 young people are expected to participate in sporting, cultural, and educational activities, complementing prior engagement initiatives that reached over 480,000 youth across Senegal.
A major milestone will be the Youth Olympic flame, which will be lit in Athens on 10 September 2026. It will arrive in Dakar on 12 September before touring all 14 regions of Senegal, with around 30 planned stops. Celebrations will also take place across Africa, supported by Olympic Solidarity.
Additional upcoming milestones include the unveiling of the official poster, Games song and dance, and ceremony uniforms.
YOGOC President Mamadou D. Ndiaye said the meeting demonstrated “remarkable progress” and affirmed that Senegal is entering the final phase of Games preparation.
The Dakar 2026 YOG will run from 31 October to 13 November 2026, hosting approximately 2,700 athletes under 17 years old.