International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leaders Programme
Country: European level
Duration: 25 young leaders selected every 2 years for a 4 year period.
Procedure for involvement:
Open Call with 2 stages:
4-Week Learning Sprint – 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;
IOC Young Leaders Programme Application Process – After successfully completing the 4-Week Learning Sprint (Certificate of Participation earned), a candidate becomes eligible to apply for the IOC Young Leaders Programme.
Through the application process, young applicants will need to submit a plan for a sport-based social business or project, which they will work on if selected as an IOC Young Leader. The proposed plan will need to be based on an existing issue in the applicant’s community through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strongly linked to sport-based solutions and the Olympic values;
Specific Criteria:
– Age between 20 and 28 years old;
– Proficiency in English;
– Applicants need to have successfully completed the 4-Week Learning Sprint;
– Comfortable in managing social media, and new technologies and platforms;
– A two-hour commitment per week is required to take part in weekly virtual sessions and to fulfil weekly tasks of the 4-week learning sprint.
– Access to a reliable internet connection and basic technology skills are necessary to navigate four virtual sessions, fill in digital feedback forms and complete weekly tasks;
– The minimum required education level is high school diploma or equivalent;
– Applicants need to have at least one year of work experience (internships and part-time jobs count as well);
– Applicants need to be involved in sport at some level, have strong interest in the Olympic Movement and the Olympic values, be passionate about creating positive change in your community through sport, and be knowledgeable about the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
For the last point mentioned above, applicants should be able to demonstrate through their application, how to link them to the suggested project.
Description:
The IOC Young Leaders programme is delivered over four years to give participants sufficient time to go through the phases of developing a social business/project 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 social business/project.
The four-year programme has a blended approach, combining virtual sessions and discussions, community spaces and learning through in-person and networking experiences.
Most of the monthly learning is online, and includes expert sessions, sharing of practical resources, connect group sessions and self-directed learning activities.
If selected 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 to provide support.