Senegal ramps up preparations for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal, are intensifying across various sectors. The Olympic flame has begun its national tour, recently passing through Matam and Saint-Louis with festive local celebrations and cybersecurity competitions known as Cyber Games.

Infrastructure and security are major focuses. The new city of Diamniadio will serve as the event's epicenter, housing the Olympic Village at Amadou Makhtar Mbow University and the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium for the opening ceremony. To ensure safety, authorities conducted large-scale crisis management exercises at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) involving police, gendarmerie, and customs.

Logistical planning is also underway to manage urban mobility. The Governor of Dakar has announced 166 measures to regulate traffic and ensure smooth movement around competition sites during the games, which are scheduled to run from October 31 to November 13, 2026.