The second Sport and Development Summit will take place in Dakar on October 30-31, 2026, as part of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The event aims to leverage the Olympic Games as a catalyst for investment, job creation, and growth in Senegal and Africa. According to Diamil Faye, Technical Advisor to the President of the Republic on sports, the summit will bring together heads of state, international sports leaders, investors, financial institutions, and development actors.
The summit, themed "Sport and Development: From Olympic Momentum to Sustainable Legacy," seeks to extend the impact of the Games beyond the sporting event, focusing on the economic and social benefits of sports. The discussions will center on the potential of sports to stimulate investments, innovation, tourism, social inclusion, and international cooperation. The creation of jobs for young people and the development of the sports economy will be key issues on the agenda.
The summit is a follow-up to the first edition held during the Paris 2024 Olympics. It aims to demonstrate Senegal and Africa's capacity to host major international sporting events while building a sustainable legacy. According to Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic on Sports, the summit should enable Senegal and Africa to capitalize on the Games to create new opportunities for young people, particularly through employment and economic development linked to sports.
The two-day event will feature a Youth, Sport, and Business Forum on October 30, which will examine opportunities offered by the sports economy to young Senegalese. The discussions will cover topics such as sports diplomacy, African sports industry, financing, infrastructure, tourism, streaming, sponsoring, and the economic impact of sports. On October 31, a High-Level Dialogue will bring together heads of state and senior officials to discuss the contribution of sports to Africa's development and international influence.
The summit will also provide a platform for young athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators to present their ideas and ambitions to decision-makers. The event is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Dakar Declaration, which will establish a common framework to sustain the momentum of Dakar 2026 and promote long-term investments. The goal is to create a lasting legacy beyond the Games.
Through this summit, organizers aim to broaden the discussion on the legacy of major sporting events, focusing on how they can generate sustainable opportunities for economies and populations. For Senegal, the Dakar 2026 YOG offers a chance to highlight the potential of sports as a driver of development. The summit should help to ensure that this ambition endures long after the Games have ended.
Key points
- The summit aims to leverage the Olympic Games as a catalyst for investment, job creation, and growth in Senegal and Africa.
