The budget of the Senegalese Olympic Committee.

Preparing Senegalese athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games is a real obstacle course for the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSS). Here is an overview of the financial challenges and the proposed solutions, with a touch of depth to sweeten the numbers.

Scholarships for athletes: A not very Olympic check.

The CNOSS ensures that all athletes receive preparation scholarships. However, the exact amounts remain unclear. For example, an athlete qualified for Paris 2024 received 11 million FCFA (around €18,300) over a year and a half. A significant sum in Senegal, but not enough to train in good conditions abroad. It is like sending someone to war with a slingshot.
Athletes complain about the lack of means to reach the top level. The Senegalese president has called for measures to improve the preparation of athletes for Paris 2024, but according to those concerned, the situation is stagnating. A law is being prepared to establish a status and remuneration for high-level athletes, which could improve things in the future.

Organization of the YOG 2026: Billions in the pocket

On the other hand, the Organizing Committee of the Youth Olympic Games (COYOG) Dakar 2026 has a comfortable budget. The French Development Agency (AFD) has granted massive support of 45 billion euros for the organization of the YOG 2026. The contrast remains striking with the preparations for Paris 2024, where the funds seem as meager as a marathon runner after the race.

Financing, budget and draft laws: Towards an improvement?

The CNOSS receives the majority of its funds from the Senegalese State. However, the amounts are considered insufficient by Senegalese athletes. CNOSS Secretary General Omar Sedima Diagne admitted that Olympic scholarships in Africa are not enough to allow athletes to train adequately. Moreover, the figures concerning the budget are not considered a priority, which is as frustrating as having a gold medal without a podium to show it.

Financing initiatives and budget: International hopes

As part of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French Development Agency launched the “Impact 2024 international” call for projects, aimed at supporting sports projects in Africa. Although this could potentially benefit Senegal, the details on the direct impact of these initiatives on CNOSS financing remain unclear. It is like hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

The CNOSS must juggle limited scholarships for athletes with a substantial budget for the 2026 YOG. The financial challenges for the Paris 2024 Olympics are clear, but initiatives and draft laws in the pipeline offer a glimmer of hope. If athletes can medal with the means at hand, imagine what they could accomplish with adequate financial support. In the meantime, let’s hope that future reforms will bring the wind of change needed to lift Senegalese sport onto the international podium.