IOC Young Leaders Programme — Entrepreneurship

The IOC Young Leaders Programme is a four-year, blended development programme for young people who want to address social challenges in their communities through sport. Candidates first complete a virtual four-week Learning Sprint and, if successful, may submit a formal application.

Selected participants develop a grassroots sport project or social business with training, coaching, networking and project funding from the International Olympic Committee. The programme contributes to the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy and supports work in areas such as education and livelihoods, equality and inclusion, health, peacebuilding and sustainability.

Benefits & funding

The most recent application call stated CHF 10,000 in seed funding for each selected participant, delivered across four years.
Monthly expert-led workshops, guidance, leadership coaching and mentoring.
Access to global gatherings, thought leaders, sport-for-development networks and dedicated programme support.
A blended learning model combining online sessions with in-person and networking experiences.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 20–28 years old.
The programme is open globally, with no nationality or residency restriction stated in the most recent call.
Completion of the four-week Learning Sprint and its tasks is required before a candidate may submit the formal programme application.
Applicants should propose a grassroots sport project or social business that responds to a social challenge in their community.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Age requirement
20–28 yrs

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Application process

1
Register for the four-week Learning Sprint during the published registration window.
2
Complete the four virtual sessions and topic-specific reflection tasks.
3
After earning the Learning Sprint certificate, submit the formal IOC Young Leaders Programme application during the second-stage window.
4
Shortlisted candidates proceed through selection; finalists in the most recent cycle were validated by their National Olympic Committees.
5
Selected Young Leaders enter the four-year capacity-building programme and develop their sport-based initiatives.

Program timeline

Registration opened for the most recent four-week Learning Sprint.
Sep 25, 2024
Learning Sprint registration closed.
Oct 21, 2024
Four weekly virtual Learning Sprint sessions took place.
Oct 22, 2024 to Nov 12, 2024
Formal applications opened for Learning Sprint completers.
Nov 18, 2024
Formal applications closed for the 2025–2028 cohort.
Dec 16, 2024
The 25 selected Young Leaders were announced.
Feb 19, 2025
Official opening and application dates have not been published.
2027–2030 cycle