(ATR) Senegalese authorities are confident that the IOC will confirm Dakar as the host city for the 2022 Youth Olympic Games.
"Beyond our nation, it is recognition for all Africa, for all African athletes," said Ibrahima Wade, vice president of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee. The Games would be the first Olympic multi-sport event in Africa.
IOC members will meet in Buenos Aires next month to ratify Senegal as the 2022 YOG host. Last month the IOC Executive Board selected Dakar from three other African bids from Botswana, Nigeria and Tunisia.
The EB recognized that Senegal offers a "strong project " and the "greatest opportunities at this moment in time."
."Without a doubt, the strength of the project that Senegal presented to the Nomination Evaluation Commission made the difference," Wade told the Sud Quotidien newspaper.
"In addition to exhaustive planning, Senegal's presents interesting perspectives regarding the latest generation infrastructures available or in progress in the country," he said.
A task force is being created by the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee led by its president Mamadou Ndiaye Diagna. Members include various sports federations, government agencies and other bodies providing services for the YOG.
Senegal’s bid centers around three cities: Dakar, the capital, Diamniadio, a developed city that was created as a suburb of Dakar, and coastal resort town Saly.
According to the local press, support for the Senegal 2022 project by President Macky Sall, has been decisive.
On his recent official trip to China Sall says he received the commitment of the highest authorities to collaborate in the preparation of the Games. Nanjing hosted the 2014 edition of the YOG,
"Obviously, we will take advantage of the experience of the first three editions, in addition to the benefit of cooperation with the IOC. With the participation of all the interested parties, the challenge will be fulfilled and Senegal and Africa will be victorious at these games," says Wade.
Senegal will organize the Games, but all of Africa will be in the spotlight," promises Wade.
Reported byMiguel Hernandez.
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