Dakar has been staging many different events lately. The buzz of the YOG in Senegal represents a real opportunity for sport development, and the Senegal Fencing Federation is no exception. Its President, Mrs Cécile Faye, is deploying her best efforts to exploit all the chances to showcase fencing in the country.
The Junior Sabre World Cup in Dakar was coupled with the Junior and Cadet African Championships, under the auspices of the African Fencing Confederation and its President, Mr Mbagnick Ndiaye.
A practical move, sustainable for both the organising federation and the participants, reducing the carbon footprint and optimising resources.Many representatives of sports bodies in Senegal attended, including:
• Fanta DIALLO, Director of Engagement department
• Babacar Makhtar WADE, Deputy General Coordinator of the YOGOC• Dr. Mohamed DIOP, President of the National anti-doping Association
• Diamil FAYE, Advisor to the President of the Republic for the YOG Dakar 2026
• Bocar Laurent SY, the Dakar 2026 HR Director
• Thierno CISSE, the Director of the Dakar 2026 Games services
• Annick Tavernier, DAKAR 2026 YOG Sport Director
• Howsoun Semega Janneh, DAKAR 2026 YOG IF Relations and Service Manager and Competition Manager
• Moussa Dia, Director of Sports and Youth Activities at the Ministry of National Education and President of the Senegal Sport School Federation
• Leopold Germain Senghor, retired Director of High-Performance Sport at the Ministry of Youth and Sport
The African Championships in Dakar were widely regarded as one of the best zonal championships in recent years — a success crowned by the Senegalese medallists, who had the joy of winning a medal at home.
However, there is more.
Thanks to the upcoming YOG, the Federation put in place educational workshops and a fencing initiation within the framework of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), with the support of the Dakar 2026 YOG Organising Committee. Seven (7) schools were mobilised:
The programme, run over 5 days, was articulated in 10 different sessions:
1. Interactive Olympic quiz
2. Crosswords and word search puzzles
3. Mined field
4. Artistic expression wall
5. Giant Jenga
6. Three-legged race
7. Olympic memory game
8. Mascotte AYO
9. Play Programme – fencing animation
10. Sustainability educational programme
The number of kids (U17) participating in these activities was on average 200 per day, so at the end of the 5 days, approximately 1,000 students got in touch with fencing for the first time. For the workshops, the kids were divided into groups and moved from stand to stand on a rotation basis. The fencing initiation was led by retired Senegalese fencers. African Fencing Confederation President, Mr Mbagnick Ndiaye discussed the initiative:
“As part of the activities and preparations for the World Cup and African Championships held recently in Dakar, the FSE set up a preparatory committee which decided that, in order to promote and popularise the sport among young people, its member clubs and anyone else who might be interested should help to ensure that young people in Dakar could really get involved and discover fencing. In this context, the federation’s fencing masters were also used to lead activities and introduce the sport, and the student fencing masters from the international fencing school were also called upon to ensure that every evening, groups of young people were introduced to the sport.
I think this was a very good thing in that it allowed us to reach a new target audience and introduce them to fencing. It allowed us, after the practice sessions and lessons, to actually watch the competitions take place in the main hall. I think it was a good experience. The project that the FIE is going to set up will also be able to benefit from this advantage. Talented athletes have been identified, young people have been identified, and I think that the project that the FIE currently wants to carry out will fit into this window that has already been opened by this initiative. The promotion and popularisation of fencing in Africa must necessarily involve projects of this kind. It is not advisable to get involved in other structures if you don’t really have the means to do so. Instead, you have to start with schools, start with young people and train as many fencing masters and instructors as possible. This is how the sport can be promoted, with adequate equipment designed for this type of activity.”
This is just the first step of an ambitious programme to promote fencing in schools and reach as many teenagers as possible.
That means they have access to a potentially enormous catchment area. Mr Dia explained that, within the framework of the Sport School Federation: “Each year a national festival of school sport is organised. The Senegal Fencing Federation has received since 2025 the authorisation for the promotion and the practice of fencing in all the schools of the country. For the national festival, fencing discovery sessions and training are organised for the students participating and their supervisors. From our standpoint the cooperation with Senegal Fencing Federation is of interest because it allows us to broaden the sport offer in schools. Our intent is to increase the participation of students in the sport and use it as a tool to convey the basic Olympic values.”
The President of the Senegal Fencing Federation commented: “Our ambition to ‘make Senegal shine at the tip of the sword’ will be achieved through the young generation of fencers that we are going to create with the support of the Ministry of National Education. This is the first institution with which we have established a partnership to offer young students the opportunity to practice fencing and live its values through the Olympic Values Education programme.”
“The future of Senegalese fencing is now.”
The FIE Interim President, in his New Year message, stated: “Our focus this year extends beyond the calendar of events. We are embarking on a new phase, guided by a renewed strategic vision for the International Fencing Federation (FIE). This vision is built on innovation, sustainable growth, and a commitment to securing the future of our sport. Central to this strategy is our dedication to nurturing the next generation of fencing talent. Events like the upcoming Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar are not just competitions; they are vital platforms for inspiring youth worldwide and showcasing the vibrancy of our sport.”
The initiative of the Senegal Fencing Federation is perfectly aligned with the FIE Strategic Plan for the current Olympic cycle, which has a strong focus on youth empowerment and access to schools.
In the coming months, Senegal will become the hub for youth fencing growth, culminating in a fencing festival at the YOG.
But the YOG are not merely an arrival point. For many young fencers and teenagers, that event is going to mark the start of a life-changing journey. And while the world is preparing for Dakar, the cap is already set beyond it, pointing at the future generations of fencers.
