On October 31, the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the first held on the African continent, opened in Senegal. The Games run for 14 days until November 13.
JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer Takeshi Sasada, a physical coach, is involved in the Games. He arrived in Dakar in May 2024 and has been training young athletes physical fitness, mainly in rugby sevens, judo and fencing. On November 1, one of his judo trainees won a bronze medal.
Yet he says the two and a half years were a succession of hardships: no athletes to coach, no team, no training place and no time to train. In this lecture he will talk frankly about his challenges, failures, struggles and small joys.
The talk is a public version of the "mock press conference" activity of the ganas Global Writer course. Attendance is as an observer, so questions cannot be asked.
Key points
- Hear from a volunteer on the ground at the first Youth Olympics in Africa
- The story of a two-and-a-half-year challenge that began from nothing
- If you cannot attend, you can watch the recording later
Why we recommend this event
It is a chance to hear, in his own words, about the hardships behind a glittering event. It suits anyone who wants to know the activities and inner struggles of JICA volunteers.
It will also be useful for people interested in Africa, sports and international cooperation, and those about to be dispatched.
Staff comments
Minato AobaResearch
“I was drawn in by the idea of two and a half years of having nothing behind the glittering Youth Olympics. Hearing both the joy of a bronze medal and the hardships seems something only someone on site can offer.”
Sophie HiroseWriting and translation
“The phrase having nothing that Aoba-san mentioned drew me in too. Sasada-san building fitness from scratch could encourage anyone curious about what volunteers actually do.”
Mako JozenjiProofreading and verification
“As you both say, hearing about the struggles behind the results is precious. Imagining days spent facing young Africans through sport, a distant continent suddenly feels much closer to me.”
Interested in this event?
Editor-in-Chief’s comment
Ren DateEditor-in-Chief
“Reading about the steady coaching that continued behind the big stage moved me.
It is online, so you can join from home. Why not come and touch the reality of the field?”