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Beyond Sport is dedicated to addressing the world’s challenges through collaborative programs that create opportunity, empower communities and tackle local challenges through sport.
In 2024, we were pleased to continue to boost our impact through partnership. Through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, a collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Beyond Sport and Women Win, and Hoops + Health founded by Sun Life and Beyond Sport, we’ve been fortunate to reach new regions. This momentum will continue into 2025, with even greater potential for impact.
Hoops + Health
The Hoops + Health program, a collaboration between leading global financial services company Sun Life and Beyond Sport, uses basketball to promote healthier lifestyles for youth across Asia. Throughout the region, many young people are suffering serious health challenges due to low physical activity levels and a lack of safe and engaging spaces to move and play.
This year, the regional community program touched down in Hong Kong, Depok (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Laguna (the Philippines), Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Through basketball court renovations, coach education workshops delivered by regional partner, ASA Foundation, and free youth basketball sessions, the initiative is helping more Asian youth live active lives. Learn more about the impact in each community HERE.
In 2025, Hoops + Health will grow to promote long-term benefits, with a greater emphasis on capacity-building initiatives to support coach development and youth wellness. The program will evolve to focus on three core pillars:
- Maintaining the refurbished courts and providing sports equipment grants to continue to address access to spaces for play and deepen community connections.
- Engaging local communities, coaches and key Sun Life stakeholders through festivals, tournaments and continued coach training to maintain awareness of healthy living tips and diabetes prevention in target communities.
- Inspiring youth with free weekly basketball sessions and offering youth clinics to support ongoing learning on health and wellness through play.
The Olympism365 (O365) Innovation Hub
In 2024, we were excited to launch the O365 Innovation Hub with the IOC and Women Win, to advance new and impactful approaches to sport for sustainable development. Designed to accelerate innovation in the sector, this multi-year initiative funds and supports groundbreaking projects by providing financial backing, educational resources and cross-sector collaboration opportunities to deepen overall impact. As part of the November 2024 launch, five projects received $10,000 each as part of the inaugural “Ignite365” Award to help advance their innovations addressing plastic waste, disability inclusion, live sport accessibility, athlete menstrual health and sustainable sporting facilities. Learn more about them HERE.
In November, a total of $170,000 (USD) in IOC funding was granted to 12 “Grassroots365” innovators to help develop, test and expand projects that are tackling hyper-local challenges with a focus on equitable access to resources. Learn more about the organizations and their work via Women Win HERE.
Alongside this, nine social “Enterprise365” innovators received a total of $300,000 (USD) in IOC funding to seed and scale projects that are addressing gender equity, education, disability and LGBTQ+ inclusion, economic empowerment and more. Led by Beyond Sport, the organizations are using income generation models, sustainable finance solutions and regenerative investments to achieve sustainable development and tackle social challenges. Learn more about them HERE.
Early next year, the O365 Hub will announce additional grantees contributing to innovation in sport for sustainable development. “Collective365” recipients will encompass collaborative partnerships originating from both inside and outside the sector, while “Tech365” recipients are using emerging technologies to accelerate impact. There will also be future funding opportunities in the “Grassroots365” strand.
Additionally, the Hub will launch a “Knowledge Exchange” to foster interaction and shared learning within the broader sport for development sector. This will empower innovators to elevate their projects, while also providing opportunities for the community to access additional insights and build their capacity and connections towards transformative change.
For more information on Beyond Sport’s programs click here.
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