Representatives of the World DanceSport Federation -WDSF- and its Breaking Division completed a four-day visit to Dakar, Senegal, as part of preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The discipline will return there to the Youth Olympic stage after its debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in a key event to maintain its projection within major international multi-sport competitions.

The visit brought the WDSF together with the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee to review venue development, operational planning and the competition experience for athletes, officials and spectators. The joint work focused on turning initial plans into a competition structure aligned with Olympic standards and adapted to a discipline with a strong cultural identity and youth appeal.

Dakar 2026, a new Olympic platform for breaking

The main focus of the visit was the Complex Tour de l’Œuf -CTO-, the future home of breaking during the Youth Olympic Games. The venue, which will also host other disciplines such as FIBA 3×3 basketball, is progressing as a multi-sport space within the Dakar 2026 organisational project.

Although the venue remains in an early construction phase, the delegation observed progress on site and a clear direction to turn the space into a dynamic competition environment. Temporary breaking facilities will be installed over a newly prepared field of play, while a canopy structure will have both an operational and symbolic function, remaining as a legacy element alongside new landscaped areas for future sporting use. “The complex will remain as a lasting legacy of the Youth Olympic Games for the city of Dakar, ensuring that this space continues to serve sport and the community long after the event,” said Diana Simarro, WDSF project officer.

Olympic standards and local training for Dakar 2026

The WDSF and the organising committee worked during the visit on areas including accommodation, accreditation, transport and competition services. Technical sessions also addressed field-of-play design, athlete flow and competition scheduling, with the aim of ensuring a smooth competitive experience and an environment adapted to the requirements of the Youth Olympic Games.

WDSF secretary general Sergey Nifontov highlighted the progress in preparations and the move towards a more operational phase. “We are seeing clear progress in the venue development and in the operational planning across all key areas. The focus now is on ensuring smooth athlete flow and a high-quality competition environment that meets the requirements of the Youth Olympic Games,” he said.

The global future of breaking after Paris 2024

The visit also included training sessions for volunteers, judges and officials, as part of a line of work focused on knowledge transfer and strengthening local capacity. Simarro led a workshop with young participants, many of them B-Boys and B-Girls from Senegal and neighbouring countries, and highlighted the group’s commitment: “The commitment of the volunteers was truly remarkable. Many travelled hundreds of kilometres just to take part in the training.” In parallel, Max Oliveira delivered technical training on competition systems, judging protocols and Olympic-level operational standards, and stressed that the visit confirmed “a very solid level of progress on site” and “a clear ambition” from the Organising Committee.

WDSF president Shawn Tay framed Dakar 2026 as an opportunity to project the future of the discipline after Paris 2024. “Breaking continues to evolve as a global sport with a unique cultural identity and powerful youth appeal. The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar represent an extraordinary opportunity to inspire the next generation and showcase the full energy and creativity of our sport,” he said.