President of ITTF Africa, Wahid Oshodi, has praised the organisation and preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, describing the event as a positive advertisement for Africa and proof of the continent’s capacity to host world-class sporting competitions.Speaking on the sidelines of activities linked to the Games, Oshodi said the event had showcased Africa’s hospitality, culture and organisational capabilities to the global community, with the opening ceremony described as “fantastic, truly out of this world” and the cultural displays bringing pride to Africans. “Everything has been fine. Transportation has been excellent, the people have been overwhelmingly nice, and the competition has been very good,” Oshodi said, adding that the Games present a unique opportunity for Africa to project its strengths both on and off the sporting arena.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which opened on October 31st at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, Senegal, mark the first time an Olympic event is being hosted on African soil, with nearly 2,700 athletes competing in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly until November 13th, representing 206 National Olympic Committees and a Refugee Olympic Team. The Games represent a historic milestone for the Olympic movement and an opportunity for Africa to demonstrate its capacity to organise major international sporting competitions, with the event’s successful delivery potentially strengthening the continent’s case for greater involvement in hosting competitions on the Olympic scale.
The organising committee has prioritised renovating existing facilities and upgrading infrastructure that can continue serving the country long after the competition, with hundreds of young professionals from Senegal and other African countries having received training in Games planning, sports administration and event operations through the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy. More than 400 young Africans have already received training in event operations, logistics, technology, accreditation and venue management, with the skills developed, experience gained and partnerships forged expected to benefit other African countries.
Oshodi’s assessment focused on the experience of participants and visitors, including transport arrangements, hospitality and the conduct of competitions, with the positive assessment highlighting the importance of event organisation, infrastructure, hospitality and cultural presentation in shaping perceptions of Africa as a destination for international sporting competitions. The broader value of hosting such events will also depend on their lasting benefits, including opportunities for young athletes, improvements to sporting facilities and stronger investment in grassroots development.
The challenge now is to ensure that the legacy of the Games extends beyond the two weeks of competition, with the skills developed, experience gained and partnerships forged expected to benefit other African countries aspiring to host major international events, and the event’s success potentially opening the door to new ambitions and partnerships for the continent.
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