The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) represent a major strategic opportunity to strengthen Senegal's image and attractiveness on the international stage, provided that it is based on ambitious and integrated territorial marketing, said Selbé Ndiémou Diouf Fall, a land-use planning engineer and urban planner.

“Much more than a sporting event, the Youth Olympic Games represent an unprecedented global showcase. The real challenge lies in territorial marketing capable of transforming this ephemeral event into a sustainable lever for repositioning Senegal as a multifaceted destination,” she said in an interview with APS.

According to Ms. Fall, who is also a geographer and specialist in territorial development and decentralization, the impact of the Youth Olympic Games "should not be limited to sports venues", but should extend to all territorial hubs of the country.

She thus advocated for the development of the historical and cultural hub of the North, beyond Saint-Louis and its colonial architecture, through the riches of the Senegal River, including the former trading posts of Richard-Toll, the landscapes of Lake Guiers and the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, presented as the third largest bird sanctuary in the world.

The expert also highlighted the importance of promoting the Bou El Mogdad, an iconic boat on the Senegal River, whose cruises, according to her, offer "a poetic and strong link between the historic North and the wild East".

The Southeast region, with the Niokolo-Koba National Park and the Bassari cultural landscape, should also be highlighted for its ecotourism potential, combining hiking, ethnographic immersion and the discovery of biodiversity, she added.

Regarding the southern region, Ms. Fall emphasized the promotion of Casamance, through its bolongs, its traditional villages like Mlomp and Affiniam, its crafts (pottery, weaving) and its masked dance festivals, thus offering "a tourism of rejuvenation and encounter".

For the seaside and ecological hub of the Petite Côte and Sine-Saloum, she felt it was necessary to move beyond the image of Saly, by highlighting the island of Gorée, the lagoons of Somone, the oyster farms of Palmarin and pirogue excursions in the Saloum delta, “kingdom of baobabs and migratory birds”.

Ms. Fall also mentioned Pointe des Almadies, the westernmost continental point of Africa, which she considers a strong geographical symbol that should be the subject of a "spectacular staging" in order to make it an iconic site.

The urban planner also stressed that Senegalese Teranga should be at the heart of the identity of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. She proposed the creation of a logo and a graphic charter inspired by this concept, to be used on all communication materials, from airline tickets to volunteer uniforms.

She also stressed the need for a national effort to clean and beautify cities and tourist sites. "The attractiveness of a region depends first and foremost on the quality of life it offers visitors," she argued.

Ms. Fall finally emphasized the strategic role of Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), which is set to become “Senegal’s first narrative showcase”, through modern signage, artistic installations and digital reception services.

She also advocated for the creation of a tourist police force, trained in assistance, foreign languages and cultural mediation, in order to strengthen visitors' sense of security and hospitality.

“The 2026 Youth Olympic Games offer an exceptional opportunity to reposition Senegal not as a simple destination, but as a nation of multiple experiences – historical, natural, cultural and human,” she concluded, calling for this opportunity to be seized “with an ambition that transcends the stadiums and is long-term.”