COJOJ clarifies controversy surrounding Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games ceremonies contract

Media reports and public opinion had raised concerns, with some interpreting the situation as a "scandal" or alleging irregularities within COJOJ. ARCOP's decision, dated May 6, 2026, annulled a selection process for the ceremonies' organization. This annulment stemmed from an appeal by an unsuccessful company, with ARCOP identifying insufficiencies in the selection mechanism's structure, particularly regarding the precision of evaluation criteria and procedural coherence.

COJOJ emphasizes that ARCOP's decision is strictly procedural, focusing on the procurement method used, and does not comment on the governance or integrity of the involved parties. COJOJ states its initial approach involved consultation with public procurement bodies, including the Central Directorate of Public Procurement and ARCOP, and a call for expressions of interest to ensure a broad and comparative selection base. The core issue highlighted by ARCOP concerns the combination of procedural mechanisms, specifically the interplay between competitive bidding and a direct agreement procedure for a contract with unique specifications.

COJOJ maintains that its procedures adhere to transparency and compliance, noting that it voluntarily adopted public p