THE PRAIA – DAKAR AXIS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION OF THE 2026 YOG

Following the meeting of the IOC Executive Board which approved the sports program for the YOG Dakar 2026 and the African tour of the Olympic flame, the President Diagna Ndiaye made a working visit to the Cape Verdean NOC, at the invitation of Philomena Fontes, President of the Cape Verde Olympic Committee, informs a press release received by our written yesterday, Friday December 13.

The edict specifies that he was accompanied by Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of the OCOG Dakar 2026, Ms. Albertine Gonzalvez, vice-president of the CNOSS, Seydina Omar Diagne, Secretary General of the CNOSS. Also note that the Ambassador of Senegal to Cape Verde, Mr. Ely Sy Beye, took part in the interviews.

President Ndiaye and his delegation were received by HE José Maria Neves, President of the Republic of Cape Verde and by Ulisses Correia Silva, Prime Minister. “During the talks, President Ndiaye presented the state of preparations for the YOG 2026 and discussed the ambition of the two NOCs to initiate joint activities towards the preparation of athletes from both countries, but also the wish of the OCOG to see the Cape Verdean NOC involved in the organization of this first Olympic event on the African continent,” reads the press release.

The President and subsequently the Prime Minister praised the great spirit of Olympic solidarity developed by the two NOCs and expressed their full availability to support initiatives in this direction. President Névés particularly appreciated the recent decision of the IOC to see the Dakar 2026 Olympic flame visit some African countries and indicated his agreement on the Praia stage and extended greetings to his brother the President of Senegal.

In line with the organization of the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of Cape Verde in 2025, he expressed the wish for the organization of sports competitions between the youth of the two countries, insisting on the eminent role of sport in strengthening the links between peoples. They both reiterated their wishes for complete success in organizing the event. At the end of the working sessions, the two NOCs of Cape Verde and Senegal decided to strengthen sporting exchanges and decided to meet again very soon to implement the agreed actions.