IOC Young Leaders Programme 2025-2028 (Funding available) Deadline: 21 October 21, 2024 (Phase 1)

Applications are open for the IOC Young Leaders Programme 2025-2028. Young talents who are willing to make a difference and leverage the power of sport to address social challenges in their communities now have the opportunity to apply for the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Young Leaders Programme 2025-2028.

Since the creation of the programme in 2016, IOC Young Leaders have delivered over 160 sport-led projects promoting education and livelihoods, equality and inclusion, health, peacebuilding and sustainability, directly benefitting more than 37,000 people.

Benefits

Each IOC Young Leader receives:

• CHF 10,000 seed-funding delivered over the four years.
• Monthly expert-led workshops and guidance.
• Access to thought-leaders and inspirational figures.
• Exclusive invitation to attend the bi-annual IOC Youth Summit.
• Invitations to attend and speak at global gatherings.
• Networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• Leadership coaching.
• A dedicated team on hand to provide support.

Eligibility

They are looking to invest in and work with an exceptional group of young leaders who have the passion to solve local problems through grassroots sport-based initiatives and sustainable social business models. They aren’t looking for one type of profile but rather a diverse group of young leaders with different backgrounds, perspectives, skillsets, motivations and experiences.

The IOC Young Leader profile:

• 20-28 years old
• Proficiency in English
• Passion for sport as a tool for social and economic change
• Interest in community action
• Knowledge of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Strong communicator and team player willing to learn and grow
• Comfortable in managing social media, and new technologies and platforms

This programme is for you if you want to:

• Turn ideation and research into real action and development of solutions
• Become a more effective and stronger leader in sport and social business (or a sport and social business entrepreneur)
• Drive local transformative change in and through sport
• Represent and embody the Olympic values in action
• Commit to a four-year entrepreneurial journey
• Be both a mentee and a mentor through a comprehensive mentorship programme
• Collaborate with fellow young leaders, experts, researchers, sports leaders and social business entrepreneurs

Application

The process for selecting the IOC Young Leaders for 2025-2028 consists of two phases: the 4-Week Learning Sprint and the IOC Young Leaders Programme application process.​​

Phase One

• Completion of the 4-Week Learning Sprint is the first prerequisite for a candidate to be eligible to apply for the IOC Young Leaders Programme.​
• Registration for the 4-Week Learning sprint opened on 25 September and will close on 21 October 2024.​
• The four sessions of the 4-Week Learning Sprint will take place from 22 October to 12 November: every Tuesday starting on 22 October. ​
• Learning material of the 4-Week Learning Sprint, including session recordings can be found on the Learning Hub, available on October 15, 2024.​

Phase Two

• After successfully completing the 4-Week Learning Sprint (Certificate of Participation earned), a candidate becomes eligible to apply for the IOC Young Leaders Programme. ​
• The application process opens on 18 November and closes on 16 December 2024.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit IOC Young Leaders Programme.