Senegal Spends $60 Million on First African Youth Olympics Amid Inflation

Dakar, Senegal, is hosting the first Olympic event held on the African continent, a move that has split public opinion between national pride and economic strain. The Youth Olympic Games opened on Saturday and will continue through Nov. 13, bringing approximately 2,700 athletes aged 14 to 17 to the capital and nearby cities.

The government committed 36 billion CFA francs, or about $60 million, to the event. That sum includes 11.3 billion CFA francs ($19 million) for renovating sports venues. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye argues the spending will improve infrastructure and provide contracts to local companies. International partners and the International Olympic Committee are also funding the Games.

Local residents say the celebration is difficult to enjoy while basic costs rise. Paulina Netinan Nodjibougada, a 26-year-old accounting student in Dakar, noted that her family struggles to cover daily expenses. She described the event as distant from her immediate concerns. “I’m not very enthusiastic because there are too many problems,” she said. “We have too many worries in the family.”

Inflation has hit essential goods hard. The price of meat increased from 3,000 CFA francs ($5) to 5,500 CFA francs ($9) per kilogram in recent months. Momar Assane Diouf, a 33-year-old entrepreneur who helped launch a campaign for fair prices, said he now holds multiple jobs to support his daughter and pay for electricity. He noted that life remains expensive regardless of the sporting schedule.

Preparations for the Games have disrupted livelihoods in the Medina neighborhood. Mamadou Wadji, 37, leads a shoemakers’ cooperative that was relocated from a market near Iba Mar Diop stadium into an unfinished school building. Wadji reported that sales dropped because customers could not find the shop. His daily household budget doubled from 5,000 CFA francs to 10,000 CFA francs.

Economic stress has led to unrest this year. A student died during protests over unpaid financial aid at Cheikh Anta Diop University in February, and workers marched in April. A 500 million CFA franc ($856,000) contribution from a foundation linked to the president’s wife to buy tickets for disadvantaged youth has also drawn scrutiny over its origin. Authorities stated the funds came from donors, not the state budget.

The next major step is the conclusion of the Games on Nov. 13. Organizers offer free fan zones, and competition tickets start at 1,000 CFA francs ($1.70). Road closures and reserved lanes around venues will remain in effect during the event.