Name of the Event: IOC Young Leaders programme: Applications are now open
Funding Type: Partially-funded
Number of Positions: 25
Eligible Countries: All
Language Required: English
Last Date of Application: 20 October 2022
(The application process for the First stage of the program which is a 4-Week Learning Sprint will be open from 15 September to 20 October 2022. )
Link to Apply:
Once the applicant submits the form, the selection committee will review it and notify the candidates of the result.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), with the partnership of Worldwide Olympic Partner Panasonic, has recently announced the Young Leaders Program. The program aims to enable youths to develop and implement social projects or businesses for the betterment of their communities through sports. This program will reinforce sport’s role as an enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs).
Any young applicant from around the globe who aims to force the power of sports toward positive change in their communities can apply for an initial four-week learning sprint as a compulsory period. Next, 25 successful applicants can benefit from the inclusive four-year program based on the submitted project idea.
The program approach is a blended mode that includes virtual sessions, discussions, community spaces, and learning through in-person and networking experiences. Each year of the program is for developing the young leader and their sport-based social project or business. The beneficiaries will receive funding, network support, tools, and expertise to become successful social entrepreneurs and positively impact through sport.
Benefits
Each IOC Young Leader will:
Receive CHF 10,000 seed funding for four years
Receive a certificate of completion
Benefit from monthly workshops and guidance presented by experts
Access to inspirational figures and thought leaders
Benefit from leadership coaching
Receive an invitation to attend the IOC Youth Summit twice a year
Receive an invitation to deliver a speech at the global gatherings
Have networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities
Get support from an on-hand dedicated team
Eligibility Requirements
The IOC seeks young leaders with different perspectives, backgrounds, skillsets, and experiences. A young leader should be:
Between 20-28 years old
Graduated from high school or equivalent
Experienced and proof of at least one year of work experiences like internships or part-time job
Proficient in the English language
Committed to at least three hours of work per week during the program
Involved in sports-related activities at some level
Passionate for sport as a tool for social and economic changes
Interested in community activities and actions
Familiar and knowledgeable with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)
Strong communicator and team player interested to learn and grow
Comfortable in managing new technologies, platforms, and social media
Able to work with different people from different cultures
Able to meet deadlines and know basic project management skills
Applicant should submit a plan for a sport-based social business or project through the application process
Expected profile:
To be selected for the IOC Young Leaders Program, applicants have to:
Have an entrepreneurial mindset and skills
Be self-motivated, committed, and adaptable
Be open-minded to being coached or mentored by experts and peers
Be interested in learning how to coach and mentor others
Have strong public speaking skills, leadership skills, or willing to develop them
Note: In addition to the above eligibility criteria, the selection committee will consider the following principles:
Gender balance
Countries and continental regions balance
Racial and ethnic diversity
Socio-economic diversity
Variety of sport-based social business ideas and solutions
IOC Young Leaders Program Stages
Generally, the program consists of two stages that interested applicants should complete:
Stage 1: This stage is 4-week Learning Sprint prerequisites for a candidate to be eligible to apply for the next step. Stage 1 is compulsory, and all applicants should complete it. Application for this stage is open from 15 September to 20 October 2022. Four weekly sessions will take place from 8 November
Stage 2: Once applicants complete the first stage successfully and receive the certification of participation, they become eligible to apply for IOC Young Leaders Program. The application process opens on 1 December and closes on 31 December 2022. This program will start in 2023 and ends in 2026.
IOC Young Leader Application Procedure
IOC Young Leader application procedure plan is as follows:
The registration process for the Learning Sprint takes place from September to October 2022
Delivery of the Learning Sprint takes place on November 2022
IOC Young Leaders Program application process opens in December 2022
The result announcement of 25 successful applicants takes place on January 2023
The program starts on February 2023