DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Paulina Netinan Nodjibougada knows Senegal is making history hosting the Youth Olympic Games, but with her family struggling to cover daily living expenses, the event feels distant from her concerns.
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event → know → concerns
The 26-year-old accounting student said she is struggling to find work and cope with the rising living costs in the capital, Dakar.
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she → say → capital
“I’m not very enthusiastic because there are too many problems,” she said of the Youth Olympic Games that kicked off Saturday.
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that → ’m → Games
“We have too many worries in the family.”
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We → have → family
The Dakar Games are the first Olympic event ever held in Africa.
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Games → hold → Africa
The Games, which will run through Nov. 13, brought about 2,700 athletes to Dakar and nearby cities.
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which → run → Dakar
Authorities and Olympic officials have promoted the event as an opportunity for Senegal’s youth, pointing to a learning academy and volunteering program tied to the Games.
But for many young Senegalese meant to benefit from the Olympics, it collides with a more immediate priority: earning barely enough to get by as frustration grows over the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
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frustration → promote → crisis
“I understand that this is a historic event, but the government should also think about young people, we are the majority,” Nodjibougada said.
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Nodjibougada → understand → people
Around 75% of Senegal’s population is younger than 35, according to the country’s national statistics agency.
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% → accord → agency
Youth unemployment stands at about 23% and a large majority of those who do have a job work in the informal sector.
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who → stand → sector
Many Senegalese struggle with rising cost of living
Momar Assane Diouf, a 33-year-old entrepreneur who helped launch a citizens’ campaign for fair prices, said the cost of electricity, food and school supplies for his 8-year-old daughter had risen and he now juggles several jobs to support his family.
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he → struggle → family
“It’s hard for all Senegalese,” said Diouf.
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Diouf → ’ → Senegalese
The price of meat for example has risen from about 3,000 CFA francs ($5) to 5,500 CFA francs ($9) per kilogram (2 pounds) in a matter of months.
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price → rise → months
Senegal’s government is struggling with a massive debt that have limited its ability to help families facing rising costs.
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that → struggle → costs
An audit last year uncovered billions of dollars in borrowing hidden by the previous administration.
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audit → uncover → administration
The country is now seeking a $2.2 billion IMF loan that would require it to rein in spending.
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that → seek → spending
In August, the government raised gasoline and diesel prices, saying it could no longer cover the full increase in global oil costs.
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it → raise → costs
The frustration from the economic crisis has repeatedly spilled into the streets.
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frustration → spill → streets
In February, a student died during unrest over unpaid financial aid at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University.
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student → die → University
Workers marched in April demanding better conditions and relief from living costs.
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Workers → march → costs
The Youth Olympic Games spending has sharpened that debate.
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spending → sharpen → debate
The Senegalese government has committed 36 billion CFA francs ($60 million) to organizing the Games, including 11.3 billion CFA francs ($19 million) for renovations of sports venues.
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government → commit → venues
A 500-million-CFA-franc ($856,000) contribution announced through a foundation from the president’s wife to buy tickets for disadvantaged young people prompted questions about the money’s origin and whether it should fund more pressing needs.
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it → announce → needs
Authorities later said the money came donors rather than the state budget but critics have sought more transparency about the contributors.
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critics → say → contributors
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has defended the Games’ economic benefits, pointing to improved infrastructure, contracts for Senegalese companies and training for young people.
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Faye → defend → people
International partners and the International Olympic Committee are helping finance the event.
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partners → help → event
Preparations for the Youth Olympics have hurt some businesses
In Medina, a working-class Dakar neighborhood hosting competitions, some workers say preparations have instead damaged their livelihoods.
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preparations → hurt → livelihoods
Mamadou Wadji, 37, heads a shoemakers’ cooperative whose members were moved from a busy market beside the Iba Mar Diop stadium into an unfinished school building as part of the Games plans.
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members → head → plans
A leatherworking center that authorities promised the shoemakers was not ready and sales have dropped because customers struggle to locate them, he said.
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he → promise → them
Meanwhile, Wadji’s daily household budget that was once around 5,000 CFA francs has gone up to 10,000, he said.
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he → go → 10,000
“We can’t go to the stadium to watch the events while our families are waiting for us to put food on the table,” said Wadji.
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Wadji → go → table
Although the competition has resulted in road repairs in parts of the city, it has also led to road closures and reserved lanes around venues, frustrating many residents.
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it → result → residents
Competition tickets start at 1,000 CFA francs ($1.70) and organizers offer free fan zones.
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organizers → start → zones
But for residents trying to make a living, participation also requires time away from work.
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participation → try → work
Diouf, the entrepreneur, said he wants the Games to succeed and give young people a respite from daily difficulties.
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Games → say → difficulties
Still, he cautions against treating two weeks of celebration as lasting relief.
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he → caution → relief
Life will be expensive during the Games, and life will be expensive after the Games,” he said.
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he → say → Games
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Associated Press journalist Babacar Dione in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.
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Dione → contribute → report
The Aporia
