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June 14, 2024 

We’re thrilled to announce expanded Head In The Game Coaches Training (“By Month” tab) for 2024 – with even more expert facilitators and topics! The training is focused on supporting US coaches to help address the wellbeing needs of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) youth.

In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared youth mental health to be a national emergency in the United States. For youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth and girls, rates have been even higher, with access to resources often out of reach. In response, Beyond Sport created Head In The Game, a comprehensive, multi-year program to improve mental health outcomes for 13- to 19-year-olds in the United States. It focuses on prevention, promotion and attitudinal change.

This year, we’re offering opportunities for both new and returning youth coaches from across the US to be trained through a mental wellbeing-lens which includes recognizing signs of stressors, empowering youth and creating stigma-free spaces. 2024 facilitators include: Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (CHJS), Doc Wayne, Get Fit Fly Right, Soccer Without Borders (SWB) and US Center for Mental Health and Sport (USC-MHS).

Healing-Centered Sport – A crash course on the brain, an exploration of the three ways sport can contribute to healing, and a look at how to integrate brain-based, healing-centered strategies into sport experiences.

Dates: July 9 | October 1 

TAPtalks – Conversations that bring self-awareness to the forefront of mental health and mental hygiene. Offered as a self-paced course with a live virtual component to put it all into practice.

Dates: June 20 – October 10

Creating LGBTQ-Affirming Athletic Spaces – Curated by LGBTQ-identified youth development professionals, explore what it means to proactively create LGBTQ-affirming athletic spaces.

Dates: August 5-23 | August 15 | September 9-27 | October 3

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER CLICK HERE 

Application of Healing-Centered Sport – This session is designed to reflect on the journey since our initial workshop. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss the challenges they faced, and celebrate the successes achieved while implementing the tools and strategies learned.

Dates: August 7 | November 13 

Application of LGBTQ-Affirming Athletic Spaces – This session will provide a platform for participants to discuss their experiences in applying LGBTQ-affirming strategies in athletic settings. Participants will be able to share common barriers and brainstorm solutions, while fostering a sense of community and mutual support among participants.

Dates: July 10 | October 23

Coaching in Communities Experiencing Violence – This workshop offers essential strategies and approaches for coaches working in high- stress and high-violence communities. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, coaches will learn how to create supportive athletic spaces that address the unique needs of their communities.

Dates: September 19 | October 24 | November 14

ACT! Certification – The objective of this certification is much like those of a first aid course for physical health. Participants learn the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge and/or crisis, how to de-escalate a situation to avoid harm to oneself or others, and what pathways are available for additional professional support. This training includes local and national mental health resources that can be utilized after the session should they ever be needed.

Dates: August 21 | September 25 | October 9

FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER CLICK HERE 

Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (CHJS): CHJS is a national nonprofit working to ensure that more young people and athletes have access to sport experiences that are healing-centered, inclusive and work to address issues of systemic injustice.

Doc Wayne: Doc Wayne provides training, tools and services that address emotional, behavioral, traumatic, racial, gender and cultural-based barriers by providing equitable access to better mental health for all.

Get Fit Fly Right: Get Fit Fly Right is on a mission to change how mental health is approached in sports by providing strategies that bring self-awareness to the forefront of mental hygiene and cultivating safe spaces and authentic connection.

Soccer Without Borders (SWB): SWB creates belonging through soccer, education and community and delivers programs that are designed for young people to develop a sense of belonging and the skills needed to build social capital and strengthen positive identity development.

US Center for Mental Health and Sport (USC-MHS): USC-MHS focuses on making sport environments a place where all involved can experience support for their mental health, by providing resources, training and support to help make each sport space inclusive and a positive experience.

All participating coaches will receive a Certificate of Completion upon request and will also be invited to participate in an online Learning Community. Join the interactive Head In The Game Learning Community today to stay up to date on the latest in advancing youth mental wellbeing. It brings together youth sports coaches, sports-based youth development non-profits, sports and mental wellbeing experts, athletes and teams from across the sports sector – along with Campaign Collaborators – to connect, learn, share and inspire action.

Learn more about the Head In The Game program HERE. 

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May 10, 2024

For the 13th year, Kellogg’s GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) Cúl Camps are returning to Ireland, providing primary school children aged 6 to 13 with the opportunity to spend their summer holidays participating in sports activities. Running weekly from late June to end of August, the camps are centered around Gaelic Games including Hurling, Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders.

In recognition of the global refugee crisis, this summer the camps will offer spaces to children of migrant families. By the end of September 2023, 114 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced from their homes, according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Children are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with young people accounting for more than 41% of the world’s refugees in 2022, according to UNICEF. Kellogg’s initiative comes at a time when diversity and recognition of the migrant crisis is crucial.

This initiative is part of the multinational food manufacturer’s social impact strategy “Better Days Promise,” which welcomes all children regardless of background or culture. Over the past two decades, Ireland has become an increasingly diverse community with people of many different ethnicities, cultures, languages and religions. It is one of the most diverse countries in the European Union with 12% of the population made up of non-Irish citizens.

The GAA Cúl Camps have long helped young people explore new interests and stay active while creating life-long friendships. They have welcomed over 1 million participants since the Kellogg sponsorship started in 2012. Since then, participation levels have increased by 92% and participants have accumulated more than 1.2 billion activity hours, based on a daily average of 240 minutes of physical activity. This aligns closely with the World Health Organization’s recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily for children aged 5–17.

The company, which split into Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co. in 2023, will further support the children of migrant families by providing transport to and from the camp. This effort will not be just a one-off but is part of a long-term vision to increase overall accessibility to the camps, helping to ensure a more diverse mix of players within the adult Gaelic Games in the country. The initiative is made possible through a collaboration between the GAA and the Irish Refugee Council. Spaces will be opened at several clubs throughout the summer, enabling migrant children to spend a day or full week engaged in activity.

“It is fantastic to see that Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps continues to grow and be such a key part of so many children’s summer break! This year we are embarking on a journey to really make a difference by putting into action our Better Days Promise of encouraging wellbeing and supporting families in our communities,” said Sarah Ferguson, Kellanova Ireland General Manager. “With Kellogg’s being a staple at the Irish family breakfast table and the GAA being such an integral part of Irish culture, we are delighted to trial this initiative for the first time this year to introduce children from different cultures and backgrounds to the joy Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps can bring.”

The initiative’s launch featured an appearance by former Leitrim Hurler, Zak Moradi. Moradi was born in a refugee camp in Ramadi, Iraq, before migrating to Carrick-on-Shannon at age 11. Despite language barriers, his talent for hurling allowed him to build lifelong friendships and opportunities. He attended the Cúl Camps as a child and now works as a coach and campaign ambassador. Dublin LGFA star Sinead Goldrick, a former Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps ambassador, was also in attendance. After recently returning to Ireland from Australia, she has rejoined the Dublin ladies’ panel ahead of championship season.

“Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps are one of the highlights of the GAA calendar, and we are very grateful to the coaches, coordinators, clubs and volunteers that make it happen,” said GAA Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns. “We are really looking forward to welcoming thousands of children across the country to their local GAA clubs to experience an action-packed and fun-filled week.”

To provide support to those impacted by global forced displacement, Beyond Sport’s Sport Together Fund provides grants and capacity-building initiatives to organizations that are using sport to assist refugees, displaced persons and asylum seekers. Learn more here.

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May 10, 2024

NFL legend and mental wellness advocate, Tom Brady, has partnered with online therapy service, BetterHelp, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in the US. Throughout May, the platform will provide consumers with one month of free therapy sessions, highlighting the importance of mental health support.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), mental illness affects more than one in five US adults. However, it is estimated that only half of them receive treatment due to barriers such as high cost and insufficient insurance coverage. A study shows that one in four Americans reported having to choose between getting mental health help and paying for daily necessities.

This new partnership intends to destigmatize seeking help for mental health issues by showcasing Brady’s therapy journey over the past 25 years. It will also offer more accessibility to inspire individuals to prioritize their mental wellbeing alongside their physical health. Founded in 2013 and now the world’s largest online therapy platform, BetterHelp provides reachable treatment through a network of more than 35,000 licensed therapists. The company says it is dedicated to making professional counseling and mental health services available through a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

New users can access the free therapy month by visiting betterhelp.com/tombrady and completing a quiz in order to be matched with a licensed therapist online. “Everyone deserves access to the life-changing benefits of therapy, and we hope this partnership inspires many more people to start their own journey to better mental health,” said Danny Bragonier, co-founder of the platform.

Brady has brought his own mental health journey to the limelight several times. After 23 seasons in the NFL, Brady opens up on the process that led him to be mentally tough in his sports career and how he applies that to his current life.

“I have been in therapy for 25 years and it has been a crucial part of my health and mental resilience,” he said in an interview with BetterHelp. “I want to be better too. I want to be better for my friends and my family, for my children. My emotions are a very human part of me. And how I can develop emotional maturity. How can I learn from them so that I can quickly grow and adapt and wake up the next day a little bit better than where I started. Therapy has made such a difference in my life.”

Head In The Game, a program of Beyond Sport powered by Z Zurich Foundation is dedicated to positively impacting youth mental wellbeing in the United States. Young people can click here to access educational and inspirational resources to support their mental health journeys.

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May 3, 2024

While Jordan has made strides in recent years toward greater gender equality, Jordanian women continue to face significant challenges, including in areas such as work force and economic participation. These persisting gender inequalities have led to targeted cross-sector efforts in the country to empower and employ women.

Recently, the “Goal for Life” program, launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the Jordan Ministry of Youth, has shown success in addressing the specific needs and aspirations of young women in Jordan’s sports sector. The program has completed its third phase and is focused on employing more college graduates in the fitness industry.

Despite recent progress, Jordan continues to rank low on World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, a longstanding annual ranking of the current state and evolution of gender parity across the world. The Index looks at country progress across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. In 2023, Jordan ranked 126 overall out of the 146 countries reporting (ranking 125 in economic participation and opportunity). Female labor force participation was below 15% in 2021 and the gender pay gap in the public sector was nearly 13% in 2018, according to figures issued by the Department of Statistics.

The ILO Decent Work for Women Program partnered with the Jordanian Ministry of Youth and the Mudarrib sports consulting company to launch Goal for Life in 2020. The program trains unemployed university graduates with physical education degrees to pursue jobs in fitness centers, educational institutions and sports facilities. Accreditation of personal trainers, training for youth at existing youth centers and job creation for young Jordanian women are part of the initiative. It also fights to end stereotypes on women’s capabilities that have negatively impacted their access to work force opportunities in Jordan. This collaborative project was supported by UN Women and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Goal for Life initially had 88 trainees, almost all of whom have now secured employment contracts in Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia, or are self-employed. It has since improved the skills of over 200 female physical education graduates and improved their access to decent jobs in gyms, schools and sports centers. Minister of Youth, Mohammad Nabulsi, and Swedish Ambassador to Jordan, Alexandra Rydmark, were in attendance for the first graduation ceremony of program participants.

“The program added a lot to us personally in terms of behaviors as trainers and how to deal with clients professionally, in addition to the cognitive aspect that helped me develop a clear action plan and basic guidelines to organize my thoughts and define my goals in line with the clients’ objectives,” said program participant Nada Mustafa.

The first two phases helped provide the local labor market with qualified trainers. The program is now in its third phase with an eye towards long-term sustainability. Tareq Abu Mailesh, founder and manager of Mudarrib said they are now focused on preparing participants for the global labor market through international accreditations from organizations like EuropeActive. “The project not only provided the participants with essential practical skills but also equipped them with the knowledge and experience necessary to excel in the fitness sector,” he said.

ILO Gender Specialist and Manager of the Decent Work for Women Program, Reem Aslan, emphasized that the project aligns closely with the ILO strategy on skills and lifelong learning 2030. The strategy provides inclusive access to high quality skills development and lifelong learning opportunities.

“Goal for Life educated participants on their labor rights and duties under Jordan’s labor and social security laws. This education helps foster a decent work environment that enhances productivity and commitment,” said Aslan. “The project reaffirms the vital role of the sports sector, a non-traditional field for women’s employment, in boosting women’s economic participation in Jordan.”

Initiatives like Goal for Life are hopefully shifting the trajectory for women in the country towards a future where every individual has the opportunity to make significant contributions to society. This includes breaking down barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields like sports, paving the way for women to grow and excel on equal footing.

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May 3, 2024

A coalition of prominent UK water-based sports groups has joined forces to address a growing threat that could disrupt the future of water sports and recreation – water pollution. They are advocating for the government to accelerate action to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

Known as the “Clean Water Alliance”, the group consists of The Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, Royal Yachting Association and Swim England, which collectively represent 450,000 members, athletes and participants. The Alliance has a goal “to achieve healthy and nature-rich blue spaces across the UK for everyone to enjoy and to protect those they represent and the natural world in which they participate.”

Water pollution is a serious threat to public health, wildlife and the environment globally. In the UK, sewage pollution has contaminated inland and coastal waters, causing health concerns and threatening ecosystems. This past March, University of Oxford rowers were sickened with E. coli while competing in the Boat Race in the Thames. The scope of the problem was also brought to light by Surfers Against Sewage, a grassroots environmental nonprofit that discovered that untreated sewage was dumped into streams more than 399,864 times a year, or more than 1,000 times a day in 2022. Sixty percent of the popular swimming and water sports venues surveyed had dangerously high levels of pollution.

The Alliance plans to pool resources across the member organizations to spread access and capabilities further as the clean water discussion grows in the UK. It has identified three priorities to focus on: 1) ‘further and faster action’ on pollution to improve the condition of UK waterways by 2030; 2) enable people to make real-time informed choices about where and when to participate in water-based sports and activities; 3) recognizing all recreational water users in decision-making and policy. It also want regulators to be funded adequately to monitor, investigate and hold polluters to account. Additionally, the group is asking for accurate access to real-time year round water quality information.

The group has also put forth a proposal to modify the wording in government policy from “bathing waters” to “recreation waters” to recognize the vast range of activities that rely on clean water. This is in reaction to the fact that just three rivers in the United Kingdom have been certified as bathing waters and hence undergo regular Environment Agency testing. In 2023, all three were assigned a “poor” classification.

Cameron Taylor, Chief Executive of GB Outrigger, added, “As an alliance of governing bodies we are speaking out clearly, united as a group, that clean water is pivotal to our survival. Polluted water is a death knell for British sport. Clean water needs to move from being considered a ‘nice to have’ to a literal ‘we can’t live without’. Without clean water, we do not exist.”

Sources: The Guardian, BBC

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May 3, 2024

There are more than 100,000 wheelchair basketball players around the world. Following extensive data analysis, research and input from wheelchair athletes, German sportswear leader, adidas, has partnered with US non-profit, Adaptive Sports Northwest (ASNW), on a first for the industry – a new line of basketball uniforms specifically designed for wheelchair and seated athletes.

The launch represents a significant milestone in the sports apparel sector. With the goal of creating a light and comfortable uniform, adidas took a critical focus on fit. Featuring cutting-edge ergonomic innovations in pattern engineering, the uniforms are designed to promote confidence while minimizing bulk and maximizing wearability. The uniform has lightweight woven front panels for durability and complete mesh rear panels for ventilation.  

“From the very first conversations and open discussions that we had with almost 200 athletes with disabilities, it was clear that the main challenge had been the same for years: wheelchair basketball players wear ‘stand-up’ uniforms that are not designed for them and do not meet their needs,” shared Beatrice Fuller, Director of Concepts Apparel Innovation at adidas. “They were ill-fitting, long and had too much volume, resulting in excess fabric, heat buildup and discomfort. Simply put, they were not designed to help athletes perform at their best. With the creation of these uniforms, we delivered a solution that will help wearers feel more comfortable and confident on court.”

The uniforms debuted at last weekend’s National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Tournament in Indiana, worn by the PNW Reign women’s wheelchair basketball team. Founded in 1949, the NWBA is the longest standing and largest Disabled Sports Organization in the world. Its 2024 NWBA Championship Series is the largest series of adapted sporting events in the United States, encompassing 1,800 athletes and 5,600 spectators. 

Last month, adidas also revealed its Olympic and Paralympic kits for Paris 2024. The brand shared that, in addition to developing adaptive training apparel, 86% of its clothing worn on and off the field is made with design principles that guarantee it fits athletes with and without disabilities. Almost one in seven people around the world are estimated to live with a disability. adidas bases its approach to designing the best for the athlete on rethinking current design for maximum effect while concentrating on a particular sport and player demographic for innovation.

“The jersey design is more than just a piece of clothing. It is a symbol of empowerment and inclusion; a product that suits our needs and preferences, making it easier and more comfortable for us to play. It is a statement that we belong, and we matter; that our team is respected, and we are recognized as athletes. It is showing that sportswear can be designed for all people,”added Jenn Waggoner, PNW Reign athlete and Board of Directors President of Seattle Adaptive Sports, ASNW sister organization.

Photos: adidas

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May 3, 2024

With a youth mental health crisis continuing to sweep across the United States, recent research from the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) is showing the transformative power sports holds to fortify the mental health and well-being of young girls. As anxiety and depression rates among girls remains disproportionately high, the study underscores the pivotal role sports can play in alleviating symptoms of both, while offering a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

In 2019, one in three high school students in the US admitted to grappling with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to the 2021 Surgeon General’s Advisory on youth mental health. This figure marked a staggering 40% increase from 2009. Teen girls in particular are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with more than half having reported these feelings in 2023 according to the CDC. Alarmingly, suicide remains the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 14 and young adults age 20-34, with one-third of teen girls reportedly having seriously considered suicide in 2021.

Amid these staggering statistics, sport in supportive and inclusive settings stands out for its ability to help girls not just survive but thrive. The recently published WSF study , entitled “Thriving Through Sport: The Transformative Impact on Girls’ Mental Health,” offers new data and actionable recommendations aimed at continuing the fight for greater equity in sports given its positive benefits on mental health. Fifty years after the passage of the landmark Title IX sex discrimination law, girls still lag behind their male peers in sports participation. Approximately 40% of teen girls are not actively participating in sport, according to the WSF. In addition, $1.13 million more is invested in boys’ sport opportunities than girls’, according to National Federation of State High School Associations.

The report found that sports participation can actually lower depression and anxiety. In fact, girls who play sports experience 1.5 to 2.5 times fewer mental health disorders than girls who never played sports, according to the research. For girls who play sports, only 17% experience moderate to high levels of depression compared to 29% for girls who never played. Beyond these direct health benefits, sports were also found to provide promotive and protective benefits, including 1.5 times higher scores for peer relationships and 1.5 times higher reported levels of meaning and purpose. These advantages extend across races, family income, parent education, sexual identity and disability status.

“So many young people are struggling with mental health issues. It’s a prominent public health concern,” said Dr. Claudia Reardon, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “This new WSF research shows that sports can play a powerful role in supporting girls’ mental well-being. Beyond physical activity, when girls play, they build relationships with their peers, learn to work as a team, and so much more.”

This sentiment was echoed by WSF CEO, Danette Leighton. “The ongoing mental health crisis in society – across all ages, and especially for youth – is a profound challenge that calls all of us to take action. Our data provides hope that sports, when done right, gives girls a tool for supporting their mental health. When we help girls thrive, we all win,” she said. The Thriving Through Sports research is just the latest data from the Foundation which has historically used evidence-based research, advocacy and community programming to help women excel in sports. WSF was founded in 1974 as one of the first organizations to promote the powerful connection between sports access, equity and society.

Given the positive impacts of sports on mental health, Leighton said the WSF is focused more than ever on improving girls’ access to sports. “Equitable access is especially important given this new research, which shows that mental health benefits of sport can be a great equalizer. When girls play in sport environments that prioritize wellbeing, they are able to play, compete and lead — in sport and in life,” she wrote in the report.

Click here to read the complete report.

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April 26, 2024

In just under 50 days UEFA EURO 2024 kicks off in Munich with matches to be held in ten host cities across Germany. 16,000 volunteers from 124 nations will help ensure its success, and host city Cologne has put an inclusive program in place to ensure the experience is open to all.

Diversity and inclusion is one of four action areas under the social pillar of UEFA’s EURO 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance strategy to ensure that the tournament is welcoming to everyone. This includes providing access and integration to people with disabilities, which Cologne is focusing on with the “Volunteer Tandem” program.

The city recruited 50 people with intellectual disabilities to become EURO 2024 volunteers, each assigned a Tandem partner to work with throughout the tournament and assist with any challenges that may arise. The program began on April 9 when the volunteers and their Tandems met for the first time to get to know each other ahead of tomorrow’s Volunteer Kick-Off event.

The program was inspired by the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, the largest inclusive sporting event in the world. During the Games, the “Host Town Program” became the largest communal inclusion project in Germany’s history motivating EURO 2024 organizers to follow its example.

As the third-largest sporting event in the world, the UEFA European Championship has a goal of becoming a reference point for sustainability in the world of sports and a driving force for sustainable development in Germany and beyond.

A working group was set up in November 2022 to further develop the idea and included several organizations with experience and knowledge on the topic of inclusion: Gemeinnützigen Werkstätten Köln GmbH, DJK Sportverband Köln, Gold Krämer Stiftung and Lebenshilfe Köln. Each has since become a program delivery partner.

During the recruitment phase, the Volunteer Management Team visited several sheltered workshops to help with applications, which is often the first major barrier for people with disabilities.

“We are very proud about our inclusive Volunteer team in Cologne as it is our goal to be open to everyone,” stated the Cologne Volunteer Management Team. “It is great to see the enthusiasm with which our Volunteers participate in our Tandem program, and we are very impressed by their openness and commitment. Now, after all tandems have met, we look forward to accompanying them during the tournament in action.”

UEFA EURO 2024 is working to bring people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities together through a common passion of football. As part of this is a provision of equal access and opportunities for the tournament’s workforce and volunteers, and the Tandem program is an example of this in action.

Source: UEFA

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April 26, 2024

NBA Africa is providing capital and mentorship as part of a new initiative to support African startups, the African tech ecosystem and the next generation of tech entrepreneurs in the sports and creative industries. Operated by leading technology incubator ALX Ventures, the “Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator” is open to early-stage startups developing solutions across event management and ticketing, youth development, AI and digital marketing. The goal is to accelerate their growth in order to help drive the growth of African economies.

Startups can apply through May 31, after which submissions will be narrowed down to a top 10. Applicants can win prizes up to $50,000 plus value-in-kind, be connected to business leaders, corporations and multinational mentors and have the opportunity to pitch to global industry leaders this autumn. The criteria state that operations must be headquartered in Africa; submissions must align to one of the five Sports and Creative startup categories; there must be proven demand for the product and/or service; and applicants must show demonstrable impact and/or relevancy to the broader African continent.

“This groundbreaking new initiative reflects our commitment to expanding the African sports ecosystem, and these incredible companies will be at the forefront of shaping the future of sport on the continent,” stated NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi at the April 25 announcement.

The 10 selected startups will then be paired with mentors comprised of NBA Africa and ALX leadership, and other corporate stakeholders, who will provide guidance to the companies with a focus on product development, business growth and go-to-market strategy. In September, NBA Africa will hold a Demo Day in New York City that will coincide with the United Nations General Assembly. Participating companies will pitch their products to a panel comprised of top industry leaders from the US, Africa and around the world. The panel will then determine the four winning companies, which will be awarded financial support, mentorship and the opportunity to work with NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on their current and future initiatives on the continent.

NBA Africa is an affiliate of the NBA which has a mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. The NBA opened its African headquarters in South Africa in 2010 and have since opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL and more.

ALX Ventures partners with African tech talent to tackle the world’s greatest challenges through business. Its pan-African tech training hubs and incubators produce hundreds of new startup founders each year.

Triple-Double launched in support of US President Biden’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative to expand digital access and literacy and strengthen digital enabling environments across the continent. The Accelerator announcement was made by Akamanzi, who was joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo and U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong at the American Chamber of Commerce’s Business Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

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April 26, 2024

Embracing sustainability, former NCAA Division I soccer player Magdalen Pike founded a US nonprofit startup in 2023 that upcycles sports gear so that ‘every kid can play’. Operating as Executive Director of Passback, she is working to create a circular economy for sports gear and textiles based on her own experiences of seeing excess equipment go unused or be thrown out.

According to UN DESA, the global sports sector is responsible for emissions equal to that of a medium-sized country. And supply chains for sports-related gear are one of the areas playing a sizeable role in affecting the world’s climate. In a recent interview with the St. Louis Business Journal (SLBJ), Pike noted some eye-opening statistics. “It takes 2,200 gallons of water to manufacture one pair of athletic shoes and the vast majority of these don’t reach the full lifecycle of their potential. I read a statistic that it’s estimated that 170 million pairs of athletic shoes wind up in a landfill in the United States annually, and that’s just like all plastic or rubber.”

The organization sees this as opportunity to empower and innovate in support of the environment and local communities, starting with soccer gear. Partnerships with sports clubs, schools and retailers fuel its reuse and recycling solution. For clubs and retailers, Passback provides savings and an easier way to get rid of surplus gear, including balls, safety gear, cleats, kits, hats, water bottles and much more. For young people and families in underserved communities, it provides high-quality products for free. Additionally, the nonprofit runs a re-commerce store with items sold at a fraction of the retail price and proceeds reinvested in its mission.

One of the organization’s core values is balance: “Our ethos revolves around achieving equilibrium, bridging gaps between socio-economic disparities. We advocate for a conscious approach to possessions, rejecting both excess and scarcity and champion the principles of minimalism and moderation,” is stated on its website.

Passback is also focused on research, creating datasets to measure the length of time consumers use products and material weights. The data is used to enhance operational efficiency and is also shared with brands in the effort to affect change in their product design and manufacturing processes. It also is sourcing solutions for non-recyclable materials. Plastic and metal items that aren’t eligible for recycling within the sports industry are tracked and repurposed in order to prevent them from ending up in landfills.

Currently the Missouri-based organization’s only employee, 28-year-old Pike has ambitions to grow nationwide. “I want to be in every socioeconomically divided city across the US. I want to be so good at reuse within sports and soccer that there’s a big green Passback bin at every soccer complex. How cool would that be? That is my dream,” she told the SLBJ.

Sources: Passback, St. Louis Business Journal

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