President Macky Sall's candidacy for the office of UN Secretary-General meets, this autumn, an appointment long in the making. From 31 October to 13 November 2026, Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly host the Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event held on the African continent.
A decision won in 2018. On 8 October 2018, in Buenos Aires, the session of the International Olympic Committee awarded these Games to Dakar, unanimously. The Senegalese bid, carried under President Macky Sall's presidency, brought the Olympic movement to Africa for the first time.
The youngest continent receives the youngest athletes. These Games gather teenage athletes from across the world on the continent with the youngest population. The symbol meets the substance: Africa organises, hosts and invests here, in the place that is its due.
Sport as a youth policy. Infrastructure, jobs, a shared pride: an event of this scale leaves the country more than two weeks of competition. Investing in sport is investing in the health, the education and the horizon of a generation.
Experience in running a state. Twelve years as head of state and the chairmanship of the African Union in 2022 underpin these commitments. That experience explains why the vision statement filed with the United Nations frames its proposals as obligations: peace, security and development conceived together; a renewed multilateralism; stronger governance of the Organization.
Africa at its heart, the world in its sights.
The award of the Games to Dakar by the International Olympic Committee dates to 8 October 2018. Read all public positions at www.mackysall.net