2024-08-05 12:42:10
At every Paris Olympics, RFI invites you to meet African journalists visiting France to cover the event. Assembled as part of the CFI (Canal France international) project Paris 2024, within the ephemeral editorial team, around fifteen of them produce articles and titles for more than 270 African media. For 15 days, you will discover how they see France and its capital during the Olympics…. With irony, surprise or surprise. In this tenth episode of the African Perspectives on the Games series, Senegalese journalist Youssouph Badji sees France as a model for the organization of the Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Dakar in 2026.
« I was in London, I was in Rio and today I am in Paris. France has shown the world that it is a great country in terms of organization, welcome and hospitality. It’s really great, on all levels, nothing to say, the movement, the reception system, hats off. We are happy. »
Initially, Youssouph Badji had thought of passing the baton to a young journalist in his editorial team. But like the athletes from his country, the Olympic Committee of Senegal chose him to accompany the representatives. Come on Paris, he enjoyed his third Olympic Games with the eyes of a child. Head of the Sports section of the daily Dakar The voice of the peopleand 55 years old, he puts his experience to the service of his colleagues
« The Olympic games are a big event that is different from the basketball that we have to watch at the Marie N’Diaye Stadium, or the football that we have to watch at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium. Cultures change. Everyone has to be consistent and you have to have a hard work. »
For Youssouph, it started well before the competitions. Although you have a license to attend all the events, you must register in advance for each discipline you want to follow within the limits of the available places. Inside the transfers and cities, everything is done so that sportsmen and tourists can get together there.
Read againDakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: “A first Olympic event in Africa which makes Senegal proud”
« French is better »
For Youssouph, theAfrica must be supported by this organization. The continent will host an Olympic event on its home turf in two years and for the first time. Dakar has been chosen to host the fourth Youth Olympic Games and, for Youssouph, Paris 2024 is a model to follow.
“France is great. What France has given us, what France has given us, we don’t see anywhere else. Indeed, we have reached a level of organization where everyone must copy France, starting with Senegal which, in two years, must host the Olympic world. The year 2026 is tomorrow, so as I see it, there is a big challenge to accept because France has set the bar very high. Even if it is not the same organization, it is for youth, it is an organization that has been established by the IOC. So, it has to be very, very. »
In 2019, the organizational committees of Paris 2024 and Dakar 2026 have signed a cooperation agreement to enable the sharing of information and best practices for the success of the two events. The partnership “Dioko”, which brings together French and private players, was also created to help repair and build sports infrastructure in Dakar, but also helps in finding high-level athletes and their training.
Read againJournalist Kiady Arivony Razafiarison laments the lack of resources of Malagasy athletes
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