Written by: Qusay Ahmed

Ambassador Khaled Aref, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to SenegalWith the President of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee, Mamadou Diagne Ndiaye, as part of the ceremony to raise the Egyptian flag at the committee’s new headquarters in Dakar.

The meeting also discussed ways of bilateral cooperation in light of the upcoming 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games – Dakar 2026, scheduled to be held from October 31 to November 13, 2026.

During the meeting, Ambassador Khaled Aref expressed Egypt’s pride that Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games on behalf of the African continent for the first time in its history, stressing Egypt’s readiness to provide all support to the Senegalese government at all organizational, technical and logistical levels, and in organizing the opening ceremony, in light of Egypt’s experience in hosting African and international sports events, citing as an example the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum last November.

For his part, Mamadou Diagne Ndiaye affirmed that the Senegalese state is harnessing all its capabilities to ensure the success of the Games, noting that the relevant committees are continuing to work to prepare the sports facilities in the cities hosting the Games, and that they are striving through this event to enhance the position of the African continent on the international Olympic map.

He also explained that they expect around 2,700 young athletes from around the world to participate, competing in 25 core sports as well as other interactive sports, and the country aspires to spread the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect among the rising generations.

In a separate context, the embassy organized a meeting with a group of students participating in a school trip to Egypt, with the aim of introducing them to the visit program and the most important landmarks that they will explore.

Introductory meeting to support cultural exchange

The meeting was held inside the premises of the private language school “Le Collège Bilingue”, in the presence of the Second Secretary of the Embassy, Karim Ashraf, along with the school director and a number of parents.

The meeting included discussions about the importance of educational trips in building bridges of communication between peoples and enhancing students' understanding of different cultures.

Integrated tourism and educational program

During the meeting, the itinerary was reviewed, which includes visiting the most prominent historical and tourist landmarks in Egypt, most notably the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, in addition to recreational activities in the city of Hurghada.

The program aims to provide an integrated experience that combines educational, cognitive and recreational aspects, thereby enhancing the value of the trip for students.