Dakar 2026: pioneering sustainable youth olympic games in Senegal

A vision of Youth Olympic Games free from plastic pollution is now a firm commitment from Dakar 2026, in collaboration with Senegal’s Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). At the core of these upcoming Games are several key principles: significantly reducing single-use plastics; enhancing waste sorting and collection systems across all venues; actively raising awareness among athletes, spectators, and local communities; and galvanizing institutions, the private sector, and civil society to forge a lasting environmental legacy.

The Organising Committee for the Youth Olympic Games (COJOJ) expressed enthusiasm, stating, ‘Through this pioneering endeavor, Dakar 2026 is poised to become a benchmark for sustainable sporting events, actively contributing to Senegal’s shift towards a circular plastics economy.’ Further elaborating on this vision, Fatou Leigh, interim Resident Representative for UNDP Senegal, remarked, ‘We are not merely initiating an environmental project; we are igniting an ambition: to showcase, through the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, that a major international gathering can indeed propel the transition towards a more responsible and enduring circular economy.’

Aliou Gory Diouf, the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, underscored the significance, declaring, ‘The Youth Olympic Games present an unparalleled opportunity for our nation. Our aim is to demonstrate Senegal’s capability to host the inaugural Olympic event on the African continent, all while establishing an environmental legacy as profound as the athletic one. Our aspirations extend beyond the Games themselves; we envision that the responsible practices embraced during this period will evolve into a deeply ingrained cultural norm.’