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IOC Young Leaders at Paris 2024: Driving Social Change Through Sport

The IOC Young Leaders at Paris 2024 are championing the Olympic values by engaging the global community in discussions about the positive societal impact of sport. Their programs at Champions Park focus on educating visitors about sport’s role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Supported by Panasonic, the initiative fosters ongoing social projects that empower youth to utilize sport for meaningful community change.

The International Olympic Committee’s Young Leaders are making significant strides at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by promoting the intrinsic values of Olympism and utilizing sport to foster societal change. Their booth, located within Champions Park and receiving up to 13,000 visitors daily, serves as an educational hub focusing on the role of sport in sustainable development throughout the year, not solely during the Games.

Engagement activities at the booth highlight crucial themes related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as equality, health, sustainability, and education. Collaborating with Panasonic, the leaders host workshops and demonstrations that showcase how sport contributes to achieving these goals. Their efforts also include interactive Q&A sessions featuring prominent figures such as Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and various Olympic and Paralympic athletes who emphasize the broader impact of sport beyond the competition.

Grace Towobola, a Young Leader from Nigeria, articulated the program’s purpose, stating, “Sport is not just about the Olympic Games. This is the message that we’re trying to pass to everyone here; we want people to know that sport can do so much good beyond the Games, and you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to use sport to foster positive change.”

Young Leaders, such as Layana De Souza from Brazil, expressed their joy in meeting individuals from diverse backgrounds and creating lasting memories. Mayssa Bsaibes from Lebanon reflected on the personal value gained from engaging with Olympism365, stating how the connections fostered will remain significant throughout her journey.

The IOC Young Leaders initiative, launched in 2016, empowers youth to develop projects that leverage the power of sport for social improvement, with over 160 projects positively impacting numerous communities worldwide. The program operates under the Olympism365 ethos, ensuring that the influence of sport is felt throughout the year.

Panasonic has been a steadfast supporter of this initiative since its inception, offering resources and expertise to further the Young Leaders’ missions until the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Games.

Looking ahead, the application process for aspiring Young Leaders will commence in September 2024, emphasizing the ongoing opportunity for young individuals to contribute to transformative projects that enact positive change through sport.

The IOC Young Leaders Programme was established to empower young individuals to use the medium of sport as a vehicle for social impact. It aligns with the IOC’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using sports-based initiatives to address pressing global issues such as health, education, and inclusivity. This curriculum encourages young talents to develop their projects and engage with communities, fostering creativity and innovation to drive change. The program emphasizes the significance of ongoing engagement with Olympism throughout the year, not just during Olympic events, highlighting the lasting effects of sports on societal development.

In summary, the IOC Young Leaders at Paris 2024 are actively promoting the Olympic values and the power of sport to instigate positive change beyond the Games. The Young Leaders’ program fosters a platform for youth engagement, collaboration, and education on significant issues, underlining the relevance of Olympism in daily life. As they prepare for future cohorts in 2024, this initiative will continue to inspire many to enact change through the transformative power of sport.

Original Source: olympics.com

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