Contributions to the development of sports infrastructure in the city of Thiès

Thiès will host events for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (October 31 to November 13), alongside Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, for the first edition organized in Africa. The ambition is to leave a lasting legacy by making Thiès a regional center for sports training, preparation, and performance. The city relies on the National Center for Popular and Sports Education (CNEPS), created in 1971, which trains physical education teachers and sports executives and hosts the SEED Basketball Academy. A modernization program of over 20 billion FCFA, with support from China, has been announced. The Lat Dior stadium hosts national football and futsal teams, and the Maniang Soumaré stadium, modernized through the FIFA Forward program, features an artificial turf pitch. Challenges include maintenance and operating costs: the division of responsibilities complicates the upkeep of Lat Dior, and night lighting burdens the budget of Maniang Soumaré, where more energy-efficient lighting is being studied. This mission mobilizes the diaspora to finance and modernize these facilities, structure their sustainable management, and support the training of young athletes, coaches, and managers. It also aims to develop sports tourism, team preparation camps, and partnerships with federations, academies, and funders.