The second edition of the Nautical Sports Festival took place in Saint-Louis, Senegal, on September 27, 2026. The event was organized by the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSS) and is part of the preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and the arrival of the Olympic flame in Saint-Louis. The festival aims to promote nautical sports and provide a platform for young people to discover various disciplines.
The festival was welcomed by Ndeye Penda Diouf Sène, president of the Saint-Louis Regional Olympic and Sports Committee, who considered it an honor for the city to host the event. According to her, the festival is an opportunity for young people to prepare for the YOG and get involved in the mobilization around the arrival of the Olympic flame on October 3 and 4. The event features various nautical sports, including surfing, canoe-kayak, swimming, beach volleyball, and beach handball.
The festival also has an educational and civic dimension, with workshops on sea safety, drowning prevention, marine environment protection, and the prevention of clandestine immigration. The event aims to promote the values of Olympism and provide a platform for young people to learn about the importance of protecting the marine environment. Ndeye Penda Diouf Sène emphasized that Olympism is not just about sports, but also about culture.
The festival provides an opportunity for young people to discover the nautical dimension and the opportunities it offers for the development of sports in Saint-Louis. The event also features cultural animations aimed at promoting local talents and the rich cultural heritage of Saint-Louis. The festival is expected to contribute to the development of nautical sports in Senegal and promote the country's Olympic values.
The second edition of the festival follows the first edition, which was held in Dakar in August 2025. The event has been relocated to Saint-Louis, which is considered a city of water, making it a natural fit for nautical sports. The festival is part of the preparations for the Dakar 2026 YOG and aims to promote the development of sports in Senegal.
The event was attended by young people who had the opportunity to participate in various sports activities and workshops. The festival provided a platform for young people to learn about the importance of sea safety, environmental protection, and the values of Olympism. The event is expected to have a positive impact on the development of sports in Senegal and promote the country's Olympic values.
The Nautical Sports Festival is a significant event in Senegal's sports calendar, promoting the development of nautical sports and providing a platform for young people to discover various disciplines. The event is part of the country's preparations for the Dakar 2026 YOG and aims to promote the values of Olympism and sports development in Senegal.
Key points
- The festival promotes nautical sports and provides a platform for young people to discover various disciplines.
- The event has an educational and civic dimension, with workshops on sea safety, drowning prevention, and environmental protection.
- The festival is part of the preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and aims to promote the development of sports in Senegal.