Former mayor of Dakar Barthélémy Dias has raised serious concerns over the organization of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), warning that the city’s sidelining from key decisions could jeopardize Senegal’s first-ever hosting of a global Olympic event.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, Dias was forthright in criticising what he described as a lack of transparency and collaboration in the planning process. He also questioned the extent of the central government’s control over a project he says was initiated by the Dakar City Hall, not the national authorities.
“It is the city that is awarded the Olympic Games, not the country,” Dias declared, referencing Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 as examples.
“It was not the state or CNOSS that submitted the bid, but Dakar’s municipality.”
According to Dias, City Hall played a foundational role in Senegal’s successful bid, but has since been excluded from decision-making—particularly on matters of funding and infrastructure.
He believes this marginalisation is undermining both the democratic process and the city’s ability to prepare adequately for the Games.
Highlighting projects initiated under his leadership—such as public gardens and synthetic football pitches in neighbourhoods like Cambérène and Gueule Tapée-Castor—Dias emphasized that Dakar has the technical capacity and leadership to execute large-scale initiatives.
With City Hall now led by an interim mayor following Dias’s legal conviction, concerns over continuity and coordination have deepened. “The municipality is not dependent on outside support for its development,” he said. “We must be considered full partners, not subordinates.”
At the heart of Dias’s criticism lies what he calls the government’s “stealth takeover” of the event’s management, especially in financial negotiations. H
e warned that this centralisation risks eroding local accountability and could lead to delays and dysfunction ahead of the 2026 deadline.
As political tensions swirl, the Youth Olympic Games—meant to be a moment of national pride—are increasingly becoming a flashpoint for debates on governance, decentralisation, and transparency.
With less than a year to go, many Dakar residents remain in the dark about how the city plans to deliver an event meant to showcase Senegal on the global stage.
About The Author
