The Dakar Arena (nicknamed Palais des sports de Diamniadio) is an

indoor arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

that is located in

Diamniadio Diamniadio is a town in Senegal. History Diamniadio is a part of the collective development program of the government of Senegal under the leadership of President Macky Sall to revitalize Senegal's economy. The development of the new city is ta ...

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

. Built between 2016 and 2018, it is primarily used for

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

games, and it is the home arena of the

Senegal national basketball team The Senegal national basketball team ( French: ''Équipe de basketball du Senegal'') represents Senegal in men's international basketball and it is overseen by Federation Senegalaise de basketball, five time a gold medallist (in 1968, 1972, 19 ...

and the

Senegal women's national basketball team The Senegal women's national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Senegal at world and continental basketball competitions for women. It is administered by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Basket-Ball. The Senegalese s ...

. The arena has a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available, and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

of 15,000 people. It is one of Africa's newest basketball arenas.

History

President

Macky Sall Macky Sall (, wo, Maki Sàll, fuc, 𞤃𞤢𞤳𞤭 𞤅𞤢𞤤‎, italic=no, Maki Sal; born 11 December 1961) is a Senegalese politician who has been President of Senegal since April 2012. He was re-elected President in the first round voti ...

promised to build a new basketball arena, after

won the

AfroBasket Women 2015 The 2015 FIBA Africa Championship for Women was the 22nd AfroBasket Women, played under the rules of FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, and FIBA Africa. The tournament was hosted by Cameroon from 24 September to 3 October, with games ...

. The objective was to replace the

Marius Ndiaye Stadium Marius Ndiaye stadium (''Stade Marius Ndiaye'') is an indoor arena in Dakar, Senegal, used primarily for basketball. The arena was home to the FIBA Africa Championship for Women 2007 The 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Women was the 18th FIBA ...

as the home arena for both men and women basketball teams in Senegal. The Dakar Arena was broke down on 9 May 2016, by President

, Prime Minister

Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne (born 22 September 1959) is a Senegalese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Senegal from 2014 to 2019. He was the third prime minister appointed by President Macky Sall. Dionne served at the Central Bank ...

and many basketball players. On 8 August 2018, the Dakar Arena was inaugurated by

. It hosted all matches of the 2019 Women's Afrobasket.

References

External links

Portfolio
Dakar Arena Dakar Arena Buildings and structures in Dakar {{Senegal-sports-venue-stub