Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the BAL, a leading figure in African sport and official ambassador for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, shared his expertise on the challenges involved in organising international sporting events with the YOGOC teams.
He is regarded as the architect of basketball’s development in Africa. Amadou Gallo Fall, the current president of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), gave a masterclass to members of the YOGOC on Thursday 12 March.
With 233 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 YOG, scheduled for 31 October, he addressed the event managers (EGMs) who will be working at the competition and non-competition venues of the very first Olympic sporting event to be held in Africa.
The former vice-president of the NBA’s Africa division shared his expertise with the YOGOC members as an organiser of international sporting events.
Rigour and Discipline
According to Amadou Gallo Fall, the first rule to follow if you want a global event to be a success is to demonstrate rigour. “You have a great responsibility today: to make Senegal and Africa a source of pride in the eyes of the world. And that demands great rigour from you, in every respect,” begins the Senegalese athlete.
Originally from Kaolack, it was thanks to unwavering discipline and rigour that he was able to seize the opportunity and secure a scholarship to study in the United States, take up elite sport there alongside his studies, before rising to head the NBA’s Africa division. “To succeed, you must set the highest standards for yourself from the very start and in every area,” he asserted.
Coordination and Planning
Another key factor in the success of this event will be the coordination and planning of the operational teams. “You need to work as a team and foster a culture of readiness to avoid constantly having to deal with crises,” emphasised the alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia in the United States.
Having played in the American university league whilst studying, before moving into international basketball management, he notably learnt to see his commitments through to the end. This is advice he also offered to the YOGOC teams during this masterclass. “You must adopt operational discipline and do everything possible to fulfil the commitments you have made”.
“If you have the vision and manage to put it all together, I have no doubt that these Games will be extraordinary,” Amadou Gallo Fall added confidently.
“Trusting in people”
When asked about the challenges involved in coordinating local teams, international partners and a large number of service providers for the organisation of events such as the BAL or the YOG, Amadou Gallo Fall urged people to trust in everyone’s abilities.
“If you are here, it is because you are capable. You have the necessary skills. We must trust in people. Successful events have always involved people,” he concluded.
