On Thursday, during the 146th IOC Session, the organizing committee for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games provided a detailed update on preparations just over 120 days before the opening ceremony. The progress of the work was logically the most anticipated topic. In accordance with the commitments made, all sites are currently being received. " assures the president of the COJOJ, Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye.
A very busy July
« The Olympic Village is the current priority.explains Abdou Diaw, the director of operations. Construction of six new buildings is currently 85% complete, with delivery of this phase scheduled for the end of July. Meanwhile, renovations to seven existing buildings are well underway following the students' departure from the campus. "The renovation must also be completed by the end of July and the COJOJ has put in place" a strengthened monitoring system to ensure deadlines are met ».
Dakar 2026 announces a 96% completion rate for the Tour de l'Œuf complex. The Iba Mar Diop Stadium is even more complete (98%). Both sites are expected to be delivered in the coming days. The Diamniadio equestrian center, which has already hosted several competitions, now only requires… minor finishing touches "Essentially. It's a matter of days, there too. The partners are also on board." To date, 97% of Dakar 2026's commercial revenues are secured, while nearly a dozen additional partnerships are in the final stages of completion. “,” Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye rejoices.
Internally, 672 people currently work at the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Youth Games (OCOG). This number will reach 755 in the coming weeks. The staff is 48% female, represents 33 nationalities, has an average age of 29, and includes people with disabilities. The selection process for the 6000 volunteers is being finalized, and training will begin in July.
Since its launch, the platform has received 23.456 registrations from 129 countries, including 44 African countries. The COJOJ also emphasized that it was fully committed to ensuring the event's security. Multifaceted partnerships are underway with friendly countries such as Spain, which recently sent a mission of high-ranking officers to Dakar, Qatar, which has provided very strong support in terms of equipment, and France, which has made available expertise in support of the defense and security forces, in addition to having already hosted several missions for feedback on the issue. »
