As part of preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Organizing Committee (YOGOC) conducted a strategic visit to Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) this Tuesday. Led by Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of the YOGOC, the delegation was received by the Director General of AIBD-SA, in the presence of several managers of structures operating on the airport platform.

This meeting is in line with the guidelines issued by the Interministerial Council of October 15, 2024, which recommends close collaboration between the YOGOC and the various entities involved in the success of this global event. According to Mr. Wade, this visit meets the objective of “setting the pace of work with all the structures that must contribute to the successful delivery of the Games.”

Indeed, the AIBD is expected to play a strategic role, serving as the main entry and exit point for delegations. “It will be the hub for welcoming nearly 10,000 to 12,000 people over a very short period,” Ibrahima Wade recalled. These include athletes, officials, members of the International Olympic Committee, representatives of international federations, dignitaries, and various other personalities.

Discussions focused on several key logistical aspects: arrival and departure arrangements, accreditation, safety and security, and on-site catering. The YOGOC also proposed that the AIBD become a visibility space for the YOG, through dedicated facilities.

At the end of this meeting, deemed “extremely satisfactory” by the general coordinator of the COYOG, the parties agreed to accelerate the work of the technical committees, to carry out regular monitoring and to soon sign a memorandum of understanding to formalize the collaboration.

The airport platform stakeholders, for their part, gave every assurance of their commitment to meeting the challenges of this unprecedented event in Africa.

Director General Cheikh Bamba Dièye reiterated that this event represents a unique opportunity for Senegal. “It is a matter of image, attractiveness, and influence for our country. This is why the instructions of the President of the Republic and the government are clear: total commitment, solidarity, and mobilization.”