Djirèye Clotilde Coly urges Senegal youth to prepare for JOJ

Senegal’s preparations for the Youth Olympic Games have entered a broader mobilisation phase, with Sports and Youth Minister Djirèye Clotilde Coly urging young people and the wider public to take ownership of the event. She said the Games should be welcomed and celebrated, but also require preparation from the country’s youth.

Coly made the call during a working visit on Wednesday to the headquarters of the Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee. Since taking office, she has sought closer cooperation between the ministry’s departments and the organising committee, with the aim of keeping preparations aligned as the event approaches.

She highlighted work already carried out on infrastructure with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside government efforts covering security, logistics, public mobilisation and organisation. The minister said these measures would need to be matched by broad national involvement rather than remaining limited to the institutions directly responsible for the Games.

The ministry, working with state services and the organising committee, will soon announce initiatives to improve the appearance of local communities and publish details of the Olympic flame’s route. Coly also thanked organising committee president Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye and his team, whom she described as dedicated young professionals, while calling on the population to remain engaged with the preparations.