Senegal has made significant investments in building, renovating, and modernizing its sports facilities to host the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026. The games will be held in three cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. These new or upgraded venues have raised questions about their long-term financing, management, and maintenance after the competition. The government's funding model for the games relies on direct, large-scale investment backed by partners such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the French Development Agency.
The funding model for the Youth Olympic Games has significant implications for Senegal's sports infrastructure. The government has chosen a model that relies on public money or public-private partnerships, with a focus on the long-term management of sports facilities. This could open the way for greater involvement by private actors in the future. According to researchers Djibril Diouf and Amadou Moctar Ndiouck, the Youth Olympic Games could help reshape Senegal's model for financing and managing sports infrastructure. They argue that the government, local authorities, and the private sector all have roles to play in funding sports facilities.
The government has a duty to build sports facilities for people involved in sports, as outlined in the 1984 Sports Charter and Articles 36 through 51 of the New Sports Code, adopted on May 11, 2026. However, in practice, ambitious public policies for infrastructure are rare outside major sporting events. Private sector involvement is therefore necessary to supplement public financing and provide technical expertise. The 2021 law on public-private partnerships provides an opportunity to develop new approaches to sports infrastructure, and this financing model has been used for other large-scale projects, such as the toll highway and Dakar's Blaise Diagne International Airport.
One of the key challenges facing Senegal is ensuring that the infrastructure renovated for the Youth Olympic Games is not too expensive to maintain after the games. The renovated sports facilities are located mainly in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, and a single, uniform maintenance model will not work for all three sites. Local realities differ, and the maintenance model will need to take into account the specific needs and circumstances of each location. For example, the Iba Mar Diop Stadium in Dakar could be managed by the National Higher Institute of Popular Education and Sports, which has been headquartered on the site since 1982.
The Office for the Management of Sports Infrastructure, attached to the Ministry of Sports, is well-suited to manage facilities located far from urban centers, such as those in Diamniadio. This public industrial and commercial entity can help sports facilities deliver both financial and social benefits. In Saly, private-sector involvement is likely to work best, as the facilities are located in a tourist and beach resort area. Private sector operators can bring a professional approach to managing sports facilities, improving the quality of services and supporting long-term sustainability.
Beyond major sporting events, Senegal needs a funding model that allows it to develop infrastructure accessible to all. The Ministry of Sports has launched an experimental local infrastructure program, building 25 multi-purpose facilities in 25 municipalities across Senegal. This initiative should be welcomed, as local facilities are vital for promoting physical and sports activities in communities. The government and local authorities must fund these everyday needs through their own budgets, and bilateral international cooperation offers another route for supporting sports infrastructure development.
The Youth Olympic Games investment has the potential to bring about lasting change in how sports infrastructure is funded in Senegal. The games could help establish a new model for financing and managing sports infrastructure, one that balances public and private sector involvement. By leveraging private sector expertise and resources, Senegal can create sustainable sports infrastructure that benefits both the sports sector and the broader population. Ultimately, the success of the Youth Olympic Games will depend on effective collaboration between the government, local authorities, and the private sector.
Key points
- The Senegalese government must balance public and private sector involvement in financing and managing sports infrastructure after the Youth Olympic Games.
- A single, uniform maintenance model will not work for the renovated sports facilities in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, and local realities must be taken into account.
- The Youth Olympic Games investment has the potential to bring about lasting change in how sports infrastructure is funded in Senegal.
