Many of the 40,000 plus volunteers mobilised for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games come from Africa. The volunteers, who are part of an exchange programme between France Volontaires and African countries, hope to use their experience to develop sport in their home countries, especially in Badminton.
Dethié Diaham: A passion for Badminton
Dethié Diaham, a Badminton enthusiast who hails from Senegal is one of these volunteers who seized the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills. “Participating in the Paris Olympic Games is an incredible experience. I have learnt a lot about staging major sports events,” he said. For him, every interaction and every task completed is a learning opportunity that could be used to promote Badminton in Senegal.
Bracing for Dakar 2026
African volunteers see Paris 2024 as a crucial step towards preparing for the Youth Olympic Games billed for Dakar in 2026. Their objectives are clear: to gain practical expertise in organisation, logistics and athlete support. They also want to learn how to mobilise and manage teams of volunteers in an international competition.
Enriching Volunteer Experience
The “Terres de jeu” programme gives these volunteers invaluable experience. “We have a unique opportunity to witness how an event of this magnitude is managed,” explains Amina Sylla, another volunteer from Mali. “We can use this knowledge to organise more efficient and professional sports events in our own countries.”
Impact on African Sports
The experience gained by these volunteers has a transformative potential for African sports. When they return to their home countries, they will become ambassadors of Olympic know-how, and be capable of training new generations of volunteers and sports leaders. Their involvement will contribute to the growth and popularity of sports such as badminton, which often receive less media coverage in Africa.
Promising Future
Dakar 2026 is poised to be a platform for the development of African sports. Thanks to the volunteers trained at Paris 2024, hopes are high that these Youth Olympic Games will be a resounding success. “We’re ready to put into practice what we’ve learned here in Paris,” said Dethié Diaham. “The future of African sports is in our hands, and we’re hell-bent on making it bright.”
Conclusion
African volunteers at the Paris 2024 Olympics are the future of African sports. Thanks to their dedication and commitment, they are laying the foundation for a new era of sports development, with Dakar 2026 in sight. Their experience in Paris will be a major asset in propelling African sports forward on the international stage.
