Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, has participated in the second edition of the Sport and Development Summit in Dakar, Senegal, where African leaders, policymakers and international stakeholders discussed strategies for transforming the legacy of major sporting events into sustainable development opportunities for the continent.
The summit was held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar, under the theme, “Sport and Development: From Olympic Momentum to a Lasting Legacy.”
The gathering comes as Senegal prepares to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, making it the first African country to host the global youth sporting event. The historic occasion provides an opportunity for the continent to demonstrate its capacity to organise major international sporting competitions while ensuring that the benefits extend beyond the duration of the events.
The second edition of the summit seeks to promote discussions on how major sporting events can serve as catalysts for economic growth, social transformation, youth empowerment and sustainable infrastructure development. It also aims to encourage African governments and development partners to establish long-term strategies that will ensure host countries and surrounding communities continue to benefit from investments made in the sporting sector.
Central to the discussions is the need to reposition sport as an important instrument for achieving Africa’s broader development objectives. Participants are expected to explore opportunities in sports infrastructure, innovation, private-sector investment, institutional partnerships and sustainable financing, while examining how these areas can contribute to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Bio’s participation provides an opportunity to highlight Sierra Leone’s development priorities, particularly the role of sports in addressing youth unemployment, promoting social inclusion and creating opportunities for young people.
The summit’s objectives also align with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan and President Bio’s Big Five Game Changers, which place emphasis on human capital development, youth employment, technological advancement and infrastructure development.
Investment in sports development is recognised as an important component of national development, with the potential to create employment opportunities, strengthen community engagement, promote talent development and provide young people with constructive platforms for participation in national life.
For Sierra Leone, the revitalisation of the sporting sector also presents opportunities to strengthen sports administration, improve sporting facilities, support grassroots competitions and create pathways for local athletes to compete at regional and international levels.
The Dakar summit further provides a platform for African countries to exchange experiences and explore partnerships that can strengthen the relationship between sports, economic development and international cooperation.
A high-level dialogue is also scheduled for the second day of the summit, bringing together key stakeholders to examine sport’s contribution to Africa’s development agenda, its economic and social impact, and the continent’s growing influence on the global sporting stage.
The discussions are expected to reinforce the importance of ensuring that investments, infrastructure and international attention generated by major sporting competitions translate into enduring benefits for host countries and the wider African continent.
President Bio’s participation underscores Sierra Leone’s engagement in continental discussions on leveraging sports as a tool for sustainable development, youth empowerment, economic opportunities and Africa’s long-term transformation.