Moussa Diedhiou, Engagement Officer for Dakar 2026 YOG Organising Committee, Senegal; 300,000 youths engaged ahead of Dakar 2026

International Youth Day: from IOC Young Leader to leading the next generation towards Dakar 2026 and beyond

As the world marks International Youth Day on 12 August, Moussa Diedhiou from Senegal shares his journey from IOC Young Leader to Engagement Officer with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Organising Committee. In this position, Moussa is working to create opportunities for some 300,000 young people across Senegal to engage with sport, connect with the YOG and become active members of their communities.

As an Engagement Officer with the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, Moussa Diedhiou is responsible for developing initiatives that connect young people across Senegal with the Youth Olympic Games, engaging 300,000 young people in the lead-up to Dakar 2026.

Previously, as an IOC Young Leader, Moussa launched Youth Engagement through Sport (YES), a project aimed at tackling school dropout rates and raising environmental awareness in southern Senegal.

Since its launch in 2016, the IOC Young Leaders Programme has supported 145 Young Leaders from 77 countries and impacted over 100,000 people globally.

Drawing on his own experience, and having seen first-hand how sport can empower young people, Moussa encourages them to recognise their potential and take the lead: To young people everywhere: be curious, be courageous and don’t be afraid to take the lead,” he says. “Your ideas, your passion and your commitment have the power to shape a better future. Together, we can use sport as a force for peace, inclusion and positive change.”

“I want to encourage every young person to believe in their ability to create positive change,” he adds. “Every action, no matter how small, can have a meaningful impact on your community.”

Building a lasting legacy for the youth of Senegal

Diedhiou’s message is formed from his experiences as an IOC Young Leader between 2021 and 2024. Now, as an Engagement Officer for Dakar 2026, he is working to connect schools and communities across Senegal with the YOG through the “Jeunesse en Jeux” programme, which is aimed at giving 300,000 young Senegalese first-hand experience of the Games.

Alongside his work on the “Jeunesse en Jeux” programme, Diedhiou has also contributed to the Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif (Olympic Civic and Sports Certificate) , a national school programme combining the Olympic values with civic education that has reached more than a million students across Senegal ahead of the Games.

Historic Games and a chance to give back

With just 80 days to go until Senegal hosts the Dakar 2026 YOG (31 October – 13 November), Diedhiou says the moment carries a lot of significance.

“As a young Senegalese passionate about sport and Olympism, Dakar 2026 is deeply personal to me. It is a historic milestone, not only for Senegal but for the entire African continent,” he says. “Hosting the first Olympic event in Africa is a unique opportunity to showcase the talent, energy and potential of African youth to the world.”

In his role, Diedhiou is also helping the current cohort of IOC Young Leaders run the Olympic Impact booth at the Youth Olympic Village, where they will connect with young athletes from around the world.

“Having been an IOC Young Leader myself, I am truly honoured to see the programme showcased and included in the Dakar 2026 YOG in my home country,” he says. “Being able to contribute to the activation in Dakar feels like a way of giving back to a programme that has had such a positive impact on my personal and professional journey.”

From grassroots project to Games-time role

As an IOC Young Leader, Diedhiou was supported by the IOC to launch Youth Engagement through Sport (YES), a project using football and other sports to keep young people in school, promote gender equality and raise environmental awareness in southern Senegal. The project also produced sportswear from recycled materials to help promote sustainability, and funded local tournaments to share the Olympic values and expand opportunities for young people.

“Being an IOC Young Leader gave me a much deeper understanding of the important role that sport can play in the development of our communities,” he explains. “It strengthened my belief that sport is much more than competition – it is a powerful tool for health, well-being, education, inclusion and overall positive social change.”

Supporting the next generation of leaders

Launched in 2016, the IOC Young Leaders Programme empowers young people to use the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities.

Since then, 145 Young Leaders from 77 countries have each delivered a sport-based project in their community, together impacting more than 100,000 people worldwide.

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Key facts As an Engagement Officer with the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, Moussa Diedhiou is responsible for developing initiatives that connect young people across Senegal with the Youth Olympic Games, engaging 300,000 young people in the lead-up to Dakar 2026. Previously, as an IOC Young Leader, Moussa launched Youth Engagement through Sport (YES), a project aimed at tackling school dropout rates and raising environmental awareness in southern Senegal. Since its launch in 2016, the IOC Young Leaders Programme has supported 145 Young Leaders from 77 countries and impacted over 100,000 people globally.

We are creating opportunities for young people across Senegal to engage with sport, connect with the Games and embrace the Olympic values. We are working to ensure that Dakar 2026 becomes much more than a sporting event. We want it to be a catalyst for positive change and a lasting source of inspiration.