(ATR) The IV Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2022 begin to receive the first international support for their new sports infrastructure.
The Government of the People's Republic of China has just signed an agreement to rehabilitate four stadiums in different regions of that African nation.
The agreement amounts to about 70 million dollars and also includes, according to the Senegalese Sports Ministry, the modernization of sports equipment and facilities such as football, basketball and handball fields, athletics tracks, electrical systems, mechanical and construction structures, and embellishments of the sports enclosures.
The stadiums that will be renovated are: the emblematic "Lepold Senghor" in Dakar (West), headquarters of the famous Lions of Senegal, soccer, the "Lamine Gueye", of Kaolack (center of the country), "Ely Nael Fall", from Diourbel (center) and "Aline Sitoé Diatta, from Ziguinchor (south).
A tender will be launched in China in coming days and in about three months the company selected to take charge of the works will establish the start date of the renovations.
The Chinese officials recalled that before the official designation of Senegal as host of the Olympic Youth Games last October at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires, the Asian nation had already expressed its cooperation to encourage the nation's comprehensive sports development. African
According to Chinese sources, the new project was born out of a promise made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Dakar last July.
"This plan will allow Senegal to have state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the Leopold Senghor stadium will guarantee us the hosting of important international football competitions," said Sports Minister Matar Ba.
The Senegalese official confirmed that the refurbished facilities will house Olympic Games competitions. Youth and the new football stadiums will again place Senegal in good position to aspire to another African Cup of Nations after the one held in 1992.
The Minister announced that the works of the Olympic Stadium with 50,000 seats promised by 2020 "will be initiated soon".
Senegal will sponsor the first Olympic Games of the continent, in this case for young athletes between 15 and 18 years.
A key element in obtaining this Olympic prize was the president of the Senegalese National Olympic Sports Committee, Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye.
Ndiaye, a member of the IOC since August 2015, was recognized for his role in the Olympic candidacy of Dakar and a few hours ago was distinguished as "The Man of the Year 2018" in Senegal by the sports press.
After the Soccer World Cup in South Africa in 2010, the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2022 will be the second most important international sporting event on African soil.
At first, the budget for your organization has been estimated at around 150 million dollars.
The IOC preferred the Senegal project ahead of those presented by Botswana, Nigeria and Tunisia.
Written by Miguel Hernandez
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