The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has pledged its support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a donation of $300,000. The announcement was made during the ECOWAS Youth Assembly and National Youth Forum of Senegal held in Dakar on November 26 and 27, 2024. This contribution is aimed at aiding the organization of the event, which seeks to empower youth and promote Olympism's universal values.
Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, led the official handover ceremony in Dakar. The event was attended by Ms. Khady Diène Gaye, Senegalese Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture; His Excellency Francis Chuks Njoaguani, Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre; and other officials.
"This partnership demonstrates ECOWAS’s commitment to sports and youth development while upholding the principles of equal opportunity," said Professor Sow Sarr. She congratulated Senegal on hosting this historic event that provides athletes from ECOWAS Member States an international platform to compete.
Mr. Momar Mbaye, First Vice-President of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Senegal (CNOSS), along with Secretary-General Mr. Seydina Omar Diagne, expressed gratitude for ECOWAS's support. "These Games...represent the entire African continent," stated Mr. Mbaye.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will feature young athletes aged 14 to 17 from across the globe under the International Olympic Committee's auspices. It aims to foster regional unity through sports while celebrating African youth talent diversity.
This financial aid is part of a partnership agreement signed in 2022 between ECOWAS Commission and CNOSS.
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