The 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, are not only a showcase for athletic talent but also an opportunity for the host country and continent to develop their broadcasting expertise. Through a partnership between Olympic Broadcasting Services and the Senegalese national broadcaster, RTS, 36 students and young graduates from Senegal and neighboring countries are gaining hands-on experience in the production of the games. This initiative aims to transfer skills and knowledge to a new generation of broadcasting professionals.
The partnership between OBS and RTS involves over 30 RTS professionals working alongside OBS teams on various competition sites. They are actively involved in producing images of several disciplines, including beach volleyball, beach handball, and lucha de playa. This collaboration allows Senegalese teams to compare their practices with those of experienced professionals while showcasing their mastery of local technical, cultural, and logistical realities.
Yiannis Exarchos, OBS director-general, emphasizes that this partnership offers Senegalese and regional professionals concrete opportunities to acquire experience, share knowledge, and develop new skills. The goal is to sustain these opportunities beyond the games. Pape Alé Niang, RTS director-general, expresses satisfaction with the experience, citing confirmation of the potential of Senegalese public audiovisual resources.
The cooperation between OBS and RTS goes beyond technical production, constituting a space for mutual learning. Professionals from both structures share their work methods, improve their practices, and familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of Olympic event coverage. Trevor Pilling, OBS senior producer, highlights the importance of this dimension in building a lasting legacy.
Oumar Ndiaye, RTS production manager, considers this experience particularly enriching, citing the professional rigor of OBS teams and the quality of exchanges between the two institutions. This experience contributes to strengthening the capacities of Senegalese professionals and consolidating their expertise in large-scale audiovisual production.
The Youth Broadcast Experience program allows 36 young participants to immerse themselves in the production of the games. They come from diverse academic backgrounds, including journalism, audiovisual production, technology, sports management, logistics, and event management. This initiative facilitates an exchange of mutual benefit, according to Luana Florentino, OBS senior manager.
The legacy of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will extend beyond the event itself, with a new generation of broadcasting professionals equipped to contribute to the development of the audiovisual sector in Senegal and Africa. The partnership between OBS and RTS sets a precedent for future collaborations, ensuring a lasting impact on the continent's broadcasting industry.
Key points
- The partnership between OBS and RTS provides a platform for Senegalese and African broadcasting professionals to gain expertise in Olympic event production.
- The Youth Broadcast Experience program offers 36 young participants hands-on experience in the production of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
- The initiative aims to transfer skills and knowledge to a new generation of broadcasting professionals, ensuring a lasting legacy for the audiovisual sector in Senegal and Africa.
