Alibaba Cloud has announced that it will provide digital infrastructure and services for the Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, marking the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted in Africa. As the official cloud services partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Alibaba Cloud will deliver its suite of cloud computing and AI technologies to support the Games’ operations and fan engagement.
Enhancing operations and legacy through digital transformation
Scheduled to take place in Senegal from 31 October to 13 November 2026, Dakar 2026 will be the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games and the first to be held on the African continent. The event is expected to bring together 2,700 athletes under the age of 17, competing in 35 sports across three cities: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly.
Alibaba Cloud will work closely with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) and the IOC to support digital transformation efforts. During a signing ceremony held in Hangzhou, China, the three parties formalised the partnership, which includes the deployment of Alibaba Cloud’s Apsara Stack. This private cloud solution will serve as the core IT infrastructure for Dakar 2026, supporting planning, operations, logistics and post-event management.
“The integration of Alibaba Cloud’s proven AI and cloud technology into Dakar 2026 exemplifies our shared commitment to making the Olympic events more efficient, sustainable and engaging,” said Antoine Azokly, Head of Youth Olympic Games Technology & Energy at the IOC. “This collaboration will not only benefit the Youth Olympic Games but also leave a lasting digital legacy for sport in Africa.”
Creating immersive experiences with AI
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud will also provide its digital flame services, using AI and cloud-powered visual technology to deliver interactive and immersive experiences for global audiences and fans.
Ibrahima Wade, General Coordinator of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, said the partnership would be key to delivering a well-run event. “The implementation of Alibaba Cloud’s digital technologies across our core services will not only ensure efficient Games operations but also create a lasting technological legacy that will benefit Senegal and the African sporting community long after the Games conclude.”
Alibaba Cloud’s support is intended to improve both operational efficiency and audience engagement. It reflects the IOC’s broader push for more digitally enhanced and sustainable Olympic events. With cloud-based applications managing everything from logistics to fan interactions, Dakar 2026 is set to become one of the most connected and digitally advanced Youth Olympic Games to date.
