Dakar 2026 is setting ambitious environmental goals ahead of the Youth Olympic Games, with a bold pledge to eliminate single-use plastics in partnership with Senegal’s Ministry of Environment and Transition and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative will prioritize three core objectives: drastically reducing disposable plastics, enhancing waste sorting and collection at all venues, and fostering environmental awareness among athletes, spectators, and local communities. The project also aims to unite government agencies, private enterprises, and civil society in building a lasting green legacy.
« This initiative will position Dakar 2026 as a global model for sustainable sporting events while accelerating Senegal’s shift toward a circular plastic economy », stated the Dakar 2026 Organizing Committee. « We’re not just launching an environmental project—we’re launching a vision. Our goal is to prove that a major international event can drive meaningful change, setting a new benchmark for responsible and sustainable sporting excellence », added Fatou Leigh, UNDP Senegal’s Acting Resident Representative.
« The Youth Olympic Games present an unparalleled opportunity for us », emphasized Aliou Gory Diouf, Senegal’s Minister of Environment and Transition. « We aim to do more than host Africa’s first-ever Olympic event—we want to leave behind an environmental legacy as significant as the sporting achievements. Our ambition extends beyond these Games. We’re committed to embedding these sustainable practices into everyday culture across the country. »
