Dakar 2026 aims to consolidate Senegal's position as a high-potential sports and tourism hub, especially for young people in Senegal, Africa and the rest of the world.

Senegal's recent sporting successes, including winning the Africa Cup of Nations (Cameroon 2021) and qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, have bolstered this strategic positioning and the country’s ambition to become a top tourist destination. The aim is to make the most of the nation’s sporting, tourist and cultural attributes in the spirit of Senegalese Teranga.

Given Senegal’s young population, the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are about building a legacy for the younger generation. Dakar 2026, in partnership with the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSS) and the entire national sporting movement, is supporting and implementing a local sports development programme to give every potential athlete with talent the chance to flourish. 

For this reason, the CNOSS will play an important role during and above all after the Games, to build on the experience gained in organising the YOG. To this end, Dakar 2026 will foster strong relationships with various partners to support the delivery of transformative Games.