Ouagadougou: Some 376 athletes, accompanied by 164 coaches and officials, are expected in Ouagadougou for the second edition of the Sahel States Alliance Games (JAES), scheduled from September 7 to 16, announced Abdoulaye Ouattara, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment, on Saturday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, athletes from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the three member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), will compete in eleven disciplines, including athletics, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung-fu wushu, wrestling, taekwondo, and archery. With only days remaining before the competition's commencement, organizers have assured that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the smooth running of the event.
"In terms of infrastructure, the selected stadiums and competition venues, including the Stade du 4 Aot and the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000, have been checked to ensure optimal competition conditions. The accommodation sites for the delegations have also been identified and secured," reassured Abdoulaye Ouattara, a key figure in the organization.
Regarding security and transportation, specific arrangements have been made. Detailed plans have been approved to ensure the reception of delegations upon arrival, their travel between accommodation and competition venues, and the security of sports facilities for the public.
Beyond the sporting aspect, the AES Games aim to leave a lasting impact on Burkina Faso and the Sahel region, stimulating economic and tourism activities in Ouagadougou and surrounding areas, thanks to the influx of delegations, visitors, and partners. The event is also expected to enhance sports infrastructure and consolidate the national and sub-regional sports movement.
"These Games are above all a celebration of values that we deeply share: peace, cross-border fraternity, and solidarity between the Peoples of the Sahel. They remind us that our three Nations, united within the Confederation, are today moving forward together towards a common destiny," said Abdoulaye Ouattara.
The chief of staff highlighted three major objectives of the Games: "to strengthen regional cohesion between the peoples of the Sahel, to consolidate through sport the diplomacy and integration of our States, and to offer Sahelian youth a framework for expression, self-improvement, and fraternal encounter."
Placed under the patronage of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor©, the second edition of the AES Games will be officially opened on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Ouaga 2000 Sports Palace.