World Olympians Association supports Olympian-led community initiatives

The World Olympians Association 2020 Grants Programme is supporting Olympian-led projects across the world.

Lausanne, Switzerland – 12 June 2020:

World Olympians Association (WOA) has today announced the projects that will receive funding through the annual WOA Grants Programme. First launched in 2016, the programme has helped support more than 50 Olympian-led projects to leave long-term positive legacies within communities or to enable the ongoing development of Olympians.

Awarded at a time where communities around the world continue to feel the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WOA’s Grants Programme supports Olympians who seek to align with the Olympic values of creating a positive impact in their communities as role models and leaders. Each inspiring project, developed in partnership with the local National Olympians Association, will receive $5,000 USD in funding to support the delivery of the projects.

The projects include a wide range of initiatives such as a project-leader training programme to help refugees in Zambia, a cycle to school scheme to reduce the number of children dropping out of school in Costa Rica, promoting Olympic values and environmental protection to young people in Greece and enriching the lives of girls through competitive recreational activities in Guinea led by the USA.

The WOA Grants Programme has previously supported a diverse range of Olympian-led social, environmental and educational programmes, including; drowning prevention programmes in India and Lithuania, bringing the community together to protect the environment in Moldova, sending Olympians back to school in Malaysia and inspiring the next generation in Nigeria by engaging children in quality education and sport.

World Olympians Association President, Joël Bouzou OLY said:

"We are delighted that we can support the inspirational work of Olympians across the world. The challenges that many communities have already faced this year make the work that these projects will be carrying out even more essential. WOA supports Olympian-led projects that make a real difference to people’s lives. We are pleased to be able to help bring these inspirational initiatives to life."

Hellenic Olympians Association President, Voula Kozompoli OLY, said:

"Our Olympic values teach us to respect, trust and care for our world and working together with young people we can share these values and ensure the environment is safeguarded for future generations."

Andrey Fonseca OLY, Costa Rica Project Lead, said:

"Children from marginalised communities in Costa Rica often have to walk long distances to school and cannot afford to do otherwise. Through this project we will support these communities by promoting cycling and providing bicycles to bring happiness to the children and enable them to go to school."

The 2020 Service to Olympians Grant awardees:

Zambia’s Refugee, Youth and Street Kids Sports Programme will train Olympians how to lead effective projects that engage refugees and street kids in sport.

Puerto Rico’s Education for Olympians will educate Olympians during their competitive careers to make them aware of opportunities and prepare them for retirement.

Singapore’s Website for Singapore’s Olympians will help create a live resource to tell the stories of Olympians to inspire future generations.

The 2020 Service to Society Grant awardees:

Angola’s Basketball for Street Boys will continue to engage street children in Luanda through sport, to give them a sense of home life and to spend time with Olympians to share their values.

Botswana’s Sports Day will place sport at the heart of the community providing opportunities for young people to get involved in sport, whilst promoting the benefits of education.

Costa Rica’s Cycling to School aims to introduce cycling into communities for children that are often forced to walk long distances to go to school as a way of reducing the number of children that drop out of school.

USA’s Education Through Sports will enrich the lives of girls in Guinea by providing opportunities to play competitive recreational activities against girls from other schools.

Greece’s Olympic Green Values will run a series of workshops to promote Olympic and sporting values and environmental protection to young people.

New Zealand’s Rotorua Trust will help mentor and develop potential Olympians to perform on the world stage and inspire future generations in the community.

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