‘Senegal is ready. Africa is ready’: a major press conference 100 days before the Youth Olympic Games

A decisive milestone 

“Today, we are 100 days to go. We are switching to ‘ignition’ mode. Not just the flame in its cauldron, but in people’s hearts. Senegal is ready. Africa is ready.” declared Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye at the start of his address. 

After discussing the sporting aspect and confirming the competition and engagement programme, the General Coordinator of the YOGOC, Ibrahima Wade, reassured those present that collaboration with all stakeholders involved in the successful delivery of these Games had been finalised: “We would like to thank our partners and all those within the national ecosystem made available by the State. No fewer than 45 partnership agreements have been signed covering transport, medical services, energy, accommodation, security and more… As for all services related to the staging of the Games, everything is ready or on track to be ready with 100 days to go until the event, and all contracts for the opening ceremony have been signed. We are well on our way to this historic moment for Africa on October 31, 2026.”

Journalists’ latest questions for the YOGOC 

Among the concerns that remain on the journalists’ side are the management of health and weather-related issues during the Games. On these points, Ibrahima Wade reassured the assembly by outlining some of the procedures put in place to deal with any situation: “We regularly organise internal ‘table-top’ sessions (preparation exercises). There is no room for improvisation. Everything is prepared in advance.”

As for visibility at local authority level, the cities of Dakar, Saly and Diamniadio are currently undergoing a branding campaign to extend the event’s reach throughout the three host cities. He concluded: “When it comes to city beautification, we’ve often been told that nothing is visible yet. Everything has its time, and that time is now: Dakar will shine, Diamniadio will shine, Saly will shine from today.”