Visa Opens Dakar Office and Sponsors Youth Olympic Games Ahead of Africa's First Olympic Event
Visa has announced the opening of a new office in Dakar by the end of 2026 and confirmed its sponsorship of the Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, running from 31 October to 13 November. The payments company will operate under the platform "Visa at Dakar 2026: Powering the Payment Experience," supporting secure digital payment acceptance for athletes, fans and visitors attending what will be the first Olympic sporting event held on African soil. Around 2,700 young athletes from across the globe are expected to participate.
As part of its on-the-ground activation, Visa will establish fan zones in Dakar and Saly to expand digital payment acceptance and support local merchants throughout the Games. The new Dakar office is intended to deepen the company's engagement with Senegalese financial institutions, regulators, fintechs and merchants as the country advances its digital payments infrastructure. Visa, a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games through 2032, has held its partnership with the Olympic Movement since 1986 - with Dakar 2026 marking its first locally focused programme on the African continent.
Source: Visa Inc.
