‘Magnificent’ Dakar Youth Games praised by IOC but future in doubt

The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar earned high marks from the International Olympic Committee on Thursday (November 12), a day before the closing ceremony, but the event’s future remains unclear.

Senegal is the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event, with the Youth Games involving almost 2,700 young athletes from 204 national Olympic committees. Africa has never hosted an Olympics Games.

“Everyone came here with certain expectations and I think those expectations have been far exceeded,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean former Olympic swimming champion, told a press conference.

Coventry said the IOC, which this year paused the process for awarding the hosting of the 2030 Youth Games, was still analyzing all aspects before a decision is taken.

“We’re still analyzing it and looking to see. Obviously, the data that we will collect from Dakar will be added into what that workshop looks like and as we move forward,” she said.

“We have to analyze what’s going to be the best way for the movement to continue doing that in the future.”

She did not say when a decision was likely on the future of the event.

The IOC staged the first summer Youth Games, the brainchild of former IOC President Jacques Rogge, in 2010 in Singapore, followed by the 2012 winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck. The 2028 Winter Games will be held in Italy.