The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar 2026 is committing to an ambitious goal: hosting a major sporting event entirely free from plastic pollution. This significant pledge has been made by the Dakar 2026 organizing committee in collaboration with the Senegalese Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, benefiting from the vital support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). At the core of these upcoming Games are several key principles: a concerted effort to minimize single-use plastics; improving waste sorting and collection systems across all venues; fostering environmental awareness among athletes, spectators, and local communities; and engaging institutions, the private sector, and civil society to cultivate a lasting environmental legacy.
“Through this pioneering initiative, Dakar 2026 is poised to become a global benchmark for sustainable sports events, simultaneously contributing to Senegal’s journey towards a circular plastics economy,” the Organizing Committee for the Youth Olympic Games (COJOJ) proudly stated. Fatou Leigh, the interim Resident Representative for UNDP Senegal, elaborated on this vision: “We are not merely launching an environmental project. We are igniting an ambition: to establish the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as a powerful demonstration that a major international gathering can indeed accelerate the transition towards a more responsible and sustainable circular economy.”
Aliou Gory Diouf, the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, emphasized the profound impact of this endeavor. “The Youth Olympic Games represent an extraordinary opportunity for our nation,” he remarked. “Our aim is to showcase Senegal’s capacity to host the first-ever Olympic event on the African continent, while simultaneously leaving behind an environmental heritage that is as significant as the sporting one. Our aspiration extends beyond the duration of the Games. We envision that the responsible practices adopted during this period will evolve into a deeply ingrained cultural norm.”