The Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) invited Senegalese, African, and international press to a "Media Tour." On 8th and 9th July, journalists from several African countries (Algeria, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast and Nigeria) and France were invited to discover the infrastructure and behind-the-scenes preparations for the first Olympic event to be organised on the African continent. This event aligns perfectly with the DAKAR 2026 motto: « Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates. ».
At the Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, the first stop on the visit, General Coordinator Ibrahima Wade, surrounded by his team, emotionally emphasised the importance of this moment, describing the gathering as a « collective victory ». To him, this stage was not just a milestone in the committee's calendar, but also a powerful symbol of the commitment and mobilisation of all stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the Youth Olympic Games.
In turn, YOGOC department heads brilliantly presented the specificities and progress in their respective areas. From legacy to security, infrastructure to mobilisation, transport to recruitment, all topics were addressed at the Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, which will host the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) opening ceremony and the archery competition. In Diamniadio, the journalists also visited the Dakar Arena, another jewel that will host several competitions during the YOG: « this flexible organisation will make it possible to adapt the events between the different venues », emphasised Thierno Cissé, Deputy Director of Operations department.
A 30-strong media delegation then went to the Dakar Expo Centre. On-site, officials from the Public Infrastructure Management Company in the Urban Hubs of Diamniadio and Lac Rose (SOGIP) presented the scope of the facilities that will host table tennis competitions, among others, while also housing the official broadcast centre for the Youth Olympic Games, whose role is essential for media coverage of the event.
Diamniadio is also the city that hosts the Olympic Village located at Amadou Makhtar MBOW University and the Diamniadio Equestrian Centre, which was the last stop on the morning of 8th July.
In Dakar, the tour led the delegation to the Place du Souvenir, the Iba Mar Diop Stadium – currently undergoing transformation – and the Tour de l’Œuf Complex. These two sites are under construction and are making excellent progress. In fact, the Olympic swimming pool and the Diamniadio equestrian centre are both expected to be completed by the end of this year. Work on the Iba Mar Diop Stadium and the Olympic Village is expected to be completed in early 2026. The YOGOC also plans to organize "test" events at all these different sites to better prepare for the main events.
For 48 hours, journalists had the opportunity to discover the seven sites that will host the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Dakar Arena, Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, Diamniadio Exhibition Centre, Diamniadio Equestrian Centre, the Tour de l’Œuf Complex, and Iba Mar Diop Stadium.
This media tour was also an opportunity for journalists to interact directly with officials from the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee through "B2B" interviews. Demonstrations of Futsal, 3x3 Basketball, and Beach Wrestling, three disciplines that are among the 25 competitive sports of these YOG, were also on the agenda. It's worth noting that water sports will take place in Saly, the third host city for these Youth Olympic Games.
The President of AIPS Africa, Abdoulaye Thiam, emphasised that this media tour provides journalists with an opportunity to grasp the significance of such a sporting event.. « The IOC has placed its trust in Africa. Now it's time for us to prove them right by grasping the importance of this event, »he stated.
Hailed by the participants, the media tour enabled journalists to gain a better understanding of the challenge, measure the progress made and relay the enthusiasm that is driving Senegal as this historic event approaches.
