As the first International Olympic Committee (IOC)-organised Games to be hosted in Africa, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal are seen as a pivotal moment for the continent’s Olympic ambitions, according to IOC Vice President Nawal El Moutawakel.
El Moutawakel, a trailblazing African athlete and Olympic official, shared in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that Dakar’s selection as the fourth host city of the Youth Olympic Games is one of the most significant legacies of outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach.
She also expressed excitement over the election of Kirsty Coventry as the next IOC President, calling it “a dream come true.”
The former Moroccan Olympic champion described the 2026 Youth Olympic Games as a “dream shared by an entire continent.” It will be the first time any Olympic event is held in Africa—a milestone she considers deeply symbolic.
In her view, Dakar’s selection represents one of Bach’s most meaningful achievements.
“He always wanted Africa to be woven into the Olympic fabric. We can’t move forward while sidelining a continent with such vast potential,” El Moutawakel said. However, she emphasized that this is only the beginning. Africa, she insists, is “ready” to host the full Olympic Games one day.
“Dakar 2026 will be the test. And I’m confident it will shine,” she added.
Another historic milestone: for the first time, the IOC will be led by a woman. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, is admired not only for her athletic success but also for her leadership and commitment to continuing the vision of her predecessor, Bach.
El Moutawakel, a global icon for women in sport, reflected on this moment of transformation.
“I saw up close how hard it was for a woman to even dream of leading this institution. In 2001, when Anita DeFrantz ran, we simply weren’t ready. It was too soon. But that attempt planted the seed,” she recalled.
Now 61, El Moutawakel has been a member of the IOC since 1998, serving under four presidents—Juan Antonio Samaranch, Jacques Rogge, Thomas Bach, and now Kirsty Coventry. She described the evolution within the organisation as “miraculous.”
“When I joined, there were so few women. Today, nearly 45% of IOC members are women. That’s an extraordinary change—thanks to tireless efforts by pioneers like DeFrantz,” she noted.
She also pointed to her leadership milestones, including chairing the evaluation commission for London 2012 and leading the coordination commission for Rio 2016—roles no woman had held before her.
Speaking about Coventry, she said, “She has the experience, courage, and foresight to tackle today’s Olympic challenges. She can truly raise the bar.”
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave behind, El Moutawakel was clear: more than the titles she held, she values the path she helped pave for women in sports leadership.
“Chairing such influential commissions, at a time when there wasn’t a single female role model in that space, was a tremendous responsibility. It wasn’t easy—but it was worth it.”
She concluded by reaffirming the core values of sport. “Sport can change your life. It teaches you that you can lose—but also that you can win. And most importantly, it gives you a voice. Since I won that medal, I’ve known I could be heard.”
Her story has inspired generations across Africa and the Arab world.
“People often come up to me and say, ‘Thank you—because of you, I am who I am.’ That’s the power of sport.”