Applications open for IOC Young Leaders Programme

The IOC Young Leaders programme is delivered over four years to give participants sufficient time to go through the phases of developing a programme/project/social business using sport as a tool for sustainable development that provides a localised sport-based solution to a pressing challenge in their respective communities.

Each year of the programme is designed around the development of the young leader and their sport-based programme / project / social business.

Phases 

• 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 1
  • 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.
  • 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 15 October 2024.
• Phase 2
  • After successfully completing the 4-Week Learning Sprint (Certificate of Participation earned), a candidate becomes eligible to apply for the IOC Young Leaders Programme.

Benefits 

• 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

Funding Information 

• Year 1 Ideation, research & development: CHF 1,000
• Year 2 Design & Launch: CHF 5,000
• Year 3 Project Scaling: CHF 3,000
• Year 4 Sustainable Execution: CHF 1,000

Eligibility Criteria 

• You need to be between 20 and 28 years old at the time of the application. Age limit principle: you turned or will turn 20 or 28 in 2024.
• You will need to have successfully completed the 4-Week Learning Sprint (Certificate of Participation earned).
• Through the application process, you will need to submit a plan for a programme / project / social business using sport as a tool for sustainable development, which you will work on if selected as an IOC Young Leader.
• The proposed plan will need to be based on an existing issue in your community through the lens of the UN SDGs, and strongly linked to sport-based solutions and the Olympic values.
• The minimum required education level is high school diploma or equivalent.
• You need to have at least one year of work experience (internships and part-time jobs count).

For more information, visit IOC.