First edition of the Sport Impact Summit in Dakar: a successful attempt!

Organised under the high patronage of the Ministry of Sports of Senegal and UNESCO, this inclusive event, attended by nearly 500 guests and enriched by the presence of prominent personalities, has strengthened the commitment for using sports as a key development tool over the continent. It has already established itself as a must-attend event within the African sports agenda.

Key highlights of the 3-event

Opening ceremony attended by high-profile personalities

Ministerial delegations and diplomatic representations from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Rwanda, alongside representatives of the African Union Sports Council, enhanced the event.

Following the conclusion of the “Dakar en Jeux” Festival the day before the Summit’s opening ceremony, the sports ecosystem was well represented with the presence of representatives from international sport institutions such as the International Olympic Committee (Ollie Dudfield), FIFA (Fatma Samoura, Kenny Jean-Marie), FIBA Africa (Anibal Manave), NBA/Basketball Africa League (Amadou Gallo Fall), and national organisations such as the Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Dakar 2026 (Ibrahima Wade), the Senegalese Football Federation (Augustin Senghor), ONIES Cameroon (Joseph-Antoine Bell).

Various funding and investment partners, including the Italian Cooperation Agency, AFD, BOAD (WADB), CGF Bourse, the European Union Delegation, FONSIS, GIZ, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Trade Center (ITC), LuxDev, Omega Sports Holding LLC, and Teranga Capital, were also represented.

Civil society organisations and private companies from Benin, Chad, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco and Uganda have contributed to debates and networking sessions.

Eiffage Senegal – Sport Impact – Frontpark Partnership for the construction of multisport infrastructures

A strategic collaboration was officially announced alongside the signing of a tripartite agreement between Eiffage Senegal, Sport Impact, and Frontpark. This project aims to build local infrastructures to promote sport on a large scale in preparation of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Launch of work on a white paper for the deployment of inclusive and gender-sensitive school-based development through sport programmes

This white paper – a joint initiative between the African Union Sports Council, GIZ S4DA and Sport Impact – is intended to promote the deployment of inclusive and gender-sensitive school-based development through sport programmes in Africa and to support the next generations of agents of change for “The Africa We Want” (Agenda 2063). It will be released in 2024.

11 initiatives rewarded during the Sport Impact Awards ceremony

The 2023 Sport Impact Awards 2023 has honoured 11 laureates, highlighting their initiatives on key sports development issues. Among them, Visit Rwanda received the Public Action of the Year award, the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium (SOGIP) received the Sports Infrastructure of the Year award, and the Astou Ndiaye Foundation received the Sport Impact Leaders award. The complete list of laureates and initiatives is available here.

Signing of a €15 million funding agreement between Senegal and France

A €15 million funding agreement was also signed between the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation of Senegal (MEPC) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The signing ceremony was attended by HE Doudou KA, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation of Senegal, HE Amélie OUDÉA-CASTERA, Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games of France, HE Lat DIOP, Minister of Sports of Senegal, and Rémy RIOUX, CEO of AFD. This €15 million funding completes the first tranche of €45 million signed in November 2022 to support the organisation and legacy of the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent.

Launch of a PPP tender process for the management of infrastructure led by SOGIP

As part of optimising the operation plan for event venues in the urban center of Diamniadio, SOGIP SA, a Senegalese national entity, has announced plans to launch a PPP tender process for the management of selected infrastructure within the urban center of Diamniadio, including the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium and Dakar Arena.

Workshops and sports challenges: from theory to on-site actions

Dedicated to youth, a series of sports challenges and workshop sessions were organised during the first day of the Sport Impact Summit within the themes of racism, inclusion, and self-confidence. Supervised by the NGO Futebol dá força and four Sport Impact Leaders – Laura Georges, Géraldine Yema Robert, Fatou Diouck, and Oumar Koné – c. 30 children from Special Olympics Senegal, Ladies’ Turn, Pulse Africa, and Futebol dá força have participated in the proposed activities.

Gala dinner at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium: a first!

The Sport Impact Summit was closed with a gala dinner at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, attended by several local artists including the renowned singer – Viviane. This innovative venue for a gala dinner has provided guests with exclusive moments of celebration and sharing.

The success of this inaugural edition of the Sport Impact Summit calls for the pursue of concrete discussions and multi-stakeholders’ synergies around sport for development in Africa. The dates and venue of the next edition will be announced soon.

The Sport Impact Summit 2023 was organised with the support of

About Sport Impact

Based in Dakar, Senegal, Sport Impact is an independent pan-African hub specialised in the structuring, coordination, and promotion of sports projects across Africa.

Serving as a gateway within the African sports ecosystem, its activities are focus on the continual optimisation of both the economic and social impacts of sport on communities.

Sport Impact provides tailor-made consulting services to its partners and clients, leveraging the multi-sectoral expertise of its team, the experience of its Senior Advisors, and its network of on-site experts mobilised on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about Sport Impact’s references.