Preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games continue to move forward strongly and have now entered a decisive phase. More than 200 National Olympic Committees took part in the Chefs de Mission Seminar held in Dakar, a key event aimed at coordinating the operational and sporting aspects ahead of what will become a historic milestone as the first Olympic event ever organized on the African continent. Of all the delegations, 173 attended in person, while others joined remotely.

During two days of work, held on April 9 and 10, representatives from around the world were able to dive deeper into topics related to logistics, accommodation, catering, medical services and competition venues. Beyond the figures and technical planning, the seminar also helped reinforce the excitement surrounding Dakar 2026 among different countries, especially because of the symbolic value of Africa hosting an Olympic event of this magnitude for the first time.

Delegations experienced the heart of Dakar 2026 firsthand

The seminar included plenary sessions, individual meetings and interactive workshops organized by the Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee. Delegations were able to resolve specific questions and fine-tune their planning with greater precision thanks to permanent information points and personalized meetings held throughout the week.

In addition to the technical presentations, representatives visited several competition venues in Dakar and Diamniadio, as well as the future Youth Olympic Village. These visits allowed the National Olympic Committees to directly observe the environment in which their athletes will compete and live, creating a more tangible connection to the project. The joint work also continued previous initiatives, such as the Open Day for NOCs held during the fourth edition of the Dakar en Jeux festival in November 2025.

Dakar 2026 is emerging as an inspiration for all of Africa

The atmosphere during the seminar highlighted the excitement this event is generating among different delegations. Kevin Flanegin emphasized that Dakar 2026 represents an extraordinary opportunity for young people and described it as one of the most important sporting and youth events in the world. From Moldova, Zalina Marghieva praised the work done so far and highlighted the significance of Senegal becoming the first African country to host the Youth Olympic Games.

From Rwanda, Jean Claude Rugigana stressed that this moment is a great source of inspiration for young people across the continent. Meanwhile, the Organizing Committee will continue using the feedback collected during the seminar to improve services and strengthen the experience for delegations. The Games will take place from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together around 2,700 athletes up to 17 years old across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.