Beyond Sport Now: A Message From Our Founder & Board Chair, Nick Keller
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The positive impact of the Paris 2024 Olympics offered a great time to reflect on Beyond Sport’s now 16-year journey and a substantial milestone provided by the London 2012 Games.
Beyond Sport has always been based on the simple notion that sport has the ability to change people’s lives, strengthen communities and drive forward a progressive society.
Four years after our founding we had the ultimate boost of the London Games, and we sure did take advantage of it. We created THE platform for discussion and collaboration for sports role in social change – with Muhammad Ali, David Beckham, Tony Blair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomspon and then Mayor, Boris Johnson.
We were on the front pages of national and international newspapers the Thursday before the Opening Ceremony with Beckham and Ali on stage with a brilliant young Afghan refugee who had become a cricket coach and translator after being fostered to the UK. The icing on the cake for me was the next day when I got to carry the Olympic torch down Camden High Street.
The early days of Beyond Sport were about providing a platform to talk about sports’ potential role in the world, connect the deeply commercial world of sport with NGOs and charities on the ground and elevate and reward excellence. We brought together politics and business at the highest level, we inspired and informed leaders in sport and provided a new recognition for sport for development. Our convenings were the true power of Beyond Sport – connecting people, inspiring those in power and opening funding models. Unquantifiable impact.
So, while I was not hanging out with world leaders this time around, I reflected that just prior to the Paris Games I had been in the city to see a panel discussion about our new Olympism365 Innovation Hub with the IOC and Women Win – an initiative advancing new ideas and technologies to maximize sport’s impact.
This partnership represents how Beyond Sport has changed – from catalyst to protagonist. In our first 10 years we granted $1.56m and in the last five we have granted $10.83m.
Despite the stage we created in our early years, our granting was limited. Cut to 2024 and we are granting to 150 NGOs across numerous countries covering a multitude of sports and social issues.
Beyond Sport has well and truly moved into its next phase. Partnerships don’t just include the IOC and Women Win, but Under Armour, New Balance Foundation, Unilever, Z Zurich Foundation, Sun Life and Team Snap.
As we celebrate this transition and the positive change it will deliver, we are more connected to the change – delivering more programs in communities that are tackling some of the world’s biggest social issues in extremely complex times. Sport is now recognized as a mainstream solution. When we look at issues of belonging and mental wellness, we know how important engagement is and the benefit that comes from a brilliantly devised program in a safe space with an outstanding coach.
Looking ahead, we envision a world where sport drives opportunity, equity and community. Our new brand leans into the role we believe sport can play in addressing our most pressing challenges. It will help drive our renewed mission to champion people and communities through our programs and partnerships. It speaks to passion; progress and the platform sport can provide to create and scale impact through collective action. Join us on our continued journey to create a more progressive world through sport.
Ignite365 Award Recipient Spotlight: Q&A with Grass Skirt Project
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Re-purposing Shipping Containers into Gyms & Community Centers
September 6, 2024
We recently announced the five inaugural recipients of the new annual Ignite365 Awards as part of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub—a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, Beyond Sport and Women Win. Each of the five are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in unique ways and will receive an initial grant of $10,000 to support their projects.
Today, meet Grass Skirt Project (GSP), which is tackling gender inequality and violence against women and girls in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by pairing sport and gender justice. GSP not only helps to address the lack of sports and fitness infrastructures in PNG but also integrates health education, leadership training and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention. Founded by Tahina Booth and Dr. Sofia Bartlett, the non-profit’s mission is to empower one million leaders by 2050 through sports in the belief that cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and leadership skills can create a stronger and more equitable PNG.
We spoke to Managing Director and Founder, Tahina Booth about GSP’s founding and its Ignite365-winning “Gymbox” initiative, which transforms 20-foot shipping containers into mobile fitness spaces. These facilities provide accessible health and wellness services to underserved communities, with a particular focus on girls and women to address GBV and equality.
Sensitive content: Discussion of sexual violence and suicide.
As a survivor of trauma, how did sport play a role in your healing and lead to the creation of Grass Skirt Project?
As a child in PNG, I experienced a devastating trauma that shattered my sense of self and security. At just seven years old, I was raped by a family member – a tragically common occurrence in a country where 100% of women experience violence in their lifetime from a close relative or partner. In a culture of silence, where such traumas are often suppressed to avoid bringing shame to families, I struggled alone, dissociating as a coping mechanism.
My healing journey began in my teen years following a suicide attempt. Through counseling, I started to rebuild my life, with sports as a constant source of strength and purpose. I discovered that physical activity offered a powerful means of reclaiming my body and voice. In my late 20s, I represented Australia in Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting and PNG in Rugby League.
My personal experience of healing through sports shaped my vision for GSP. I realized that while individual strength is crucial, a supportive community is equally essential for overcoming trauma and effecting change. This understanding became the cornerstone of GSP’s mission – to use sports as a tool for empowering others, especially survivors of trauma and to build supportive communities that foster healing and growth. Through sports, we’re working to rewrite the narrative of an entire generation, proving that even in the face of daunting social challenges, positive change is possible.
What are the challenges facing Papua New Guineans and how does GSP help address them?
PNG faces profound challenges related to GBV and inequality with its alarmingly high rates of violence and sexual abuse against women and girls. The nation is ranked 160 out of 161 on the UN Gender Equality Index and a woman is beaten every 30 seconds.
There is also limited access to health and wellness education and services. Over 50% of the population is under 25, 80% are pushed out of the school system and they are facing a 75% general unemployment rate. Additionally, there’s a lack of leadership opportunities and empowerment, especially for women and girls.
GSP offers an innovative approach to addressing these issues. By leveraging the universal appeal of sports, we have created safe spaces for individuals to rebuild their confidence, develop leadership skills and challenge harmful gender norms – offering hope and a path forward.
What is Gymbox and how are you using it to address GBV?
Gymbox involves transforming second-hand shipping containers into gym facilities, providing a safe space for physical activity and sport, health education and community interaction. It is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly creation in a community with limited resources that uses a holistic and innovative community development approach suited to unique challenges in PNG.
The initiative engages youth, 49% being unemployed boys under 18, and provides them with healthy activities and an alternative to negative behaviors. We need a cultural shift to prevent GBV; therefore, the initiative emphasizes this by engaging men and boys in discussions about gender equality and GBV prevention.
Gymbox is integrated with our 10 Million Strong Leadership (10MS) Program, which uses sport to educate youth on gender equality and leadership, aiming to transform societal attitudes towards GBV.
It is supported by various partners, including local leaders and organizations, to ensure cultural relevance and sustainability. The involvement of respected figures like church elders helps reinforce the program’s legitimacy within communities. The first Gymbox prototype was created by acquiring second-hand shipping containers in Port Moresby and working with a local contractor to fit them out according to the program’s needs. This process was a learning experience, leading to a new design for future prototypes.
What’s the future of Gymbox?
Over the past four years, Gymbox has demonstrated its effectiveness. The evidence gathered from existing units shows increased physical activity levels, improved health awareness and enhanced community engagement, particularly among youth and women.
We’re planning to expand the Gymbox program by constructing new units in schools and churches across PNG. This strategic placement will allow Gymbox to integrate seamlessly with educational institutions and community centers, maximizing its reach and impact. The long-term vision is to continue to use Gymbox as a multifaceted hub combining physical fitness facilities with spaces for workshops, health screenings, and community gatherings.
How will the Olympism365 Innovation Hub help boost your impact?
This recognition not only provides crucial funding but also amplifies our voice on a global stage, opening doors to new partnerships and resources. Our story is rooted in the harsh realities of PNG, where violence against women and children is alarmingly common. As an athlete, mother, sister and survivor, I’ve experienced firsthand the devastating impact of this violence. But I refuse to accept this as our children’s future. GSP was born from the conviction that we must take action now to create lasting change.
The Ignite365 grant will fund our new prototype Gymbox, a cornerstone of our strategy to engage perpetrators of violence in prevention programs. Our Gymbox and 10MS program initiatives uniquely combine physical fitness with education on gender equality, leadership and non-violence. We’re reaching those who need to hear this message most, in spaces where they’re receptive to change.
But to truly transform PNG, we need to scale our programs to rural communities and islands. We’re calling on international partners to join us in this crucial mission – to help us raise $495,000 so that we can expand our Gymbox and 10 MS programs to reach thousands more potential change-makers.
Stay tuned to hear from the other Award recipients over the coming weeks!
WHO & IPC Highlight Assistive Tech at Paris 2024 Paralympics
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are highlighting the transformative impact of assistive tech for Paralympians at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Around 4,400 athletes are competing across 22 sports and many use assistive tech to compete at peak levels, revolutionizing their the potential. The ‘Equipped for Equity’ campaign emphasizes the crucial role of tech in improving accessibility and mobility for Paralympians and people with disabilities.
Assistive technology encompasses items, equipment, software programs or product systems that are used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities, the elderly and people with long term health conditions. According to the WHO, assistive products can range from physical products such as wheelchairs, glasses, prosthetic limbs, white canes and hearing aids to digital solutions such as speech recognition or time management software and captioning. Examples of assistive technology used by Paralympians include running blades, customized wheelchairs and release braces in archery.
However, the WHO estimates that access to these products remains severely limited with more than 2.5 billion people in need of them worldwide. For instance, only 5-35% of the 80 million people who need a wheelchair have access to one and only 10% of the global demand for hearing aids is met.
There are significant barriers to accessing assistive tech globally, particularly for young and aspiring para-athletes. Research shows that economically advantaged countries and athletes can afford assistive products, but those from low—and low-middle-income countries often lack access or rely on low-quality and outdated products. This can create an uneven playing field where athletes’ performances are based on their access to the best assistive tech and products.
WHO states that measures to make assistive tech more accessible and affordable are essential not only for empowering individuals to participate fully in life but also for driving broader societal and economic development. Expanding access to quality, safe and affordable assistive tech reduces health and welfare costs such as recurrent hospital admissions.
“The Paralympics shows us what is possible and the important role that assistive tech plays for these extraordinary athletes… But around the world, many people still do not have access to crucial assistive tech, due to its high cost and low availability,” said DrTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “We call on governments, donors and civil society to prioritize these neglected but crucial products by integrating them in primary care programs as part of their journey towards universal health coverage.”
The campaign is sharing messages and information focused on the importance of assistive tech, how athletes use it and why universal access is essential during the Paralympic Games. It also features personal stories from Paralympians who rely on assistive tech for sport and in daily life and highlights real-life examples of advancements in making assistive tech more accessible. This includes Zimbabwe’s recent tax exemption on assistive tech and the pre-paralympic tax reductions on assistive tech for sports in France and Japan.
By highlighting these initiatives, the campaign is calling on countries to implement similar initiatives and integrate assistive technology into primary health care and universal health coverage.
RecycleBalls & Laykold To Transform Old Tennis Balls Into Sustainable Courts
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RecycleBalls, a nonprofit leader in tennis ball reuse, has teamed up with tennis court brand and Official Surface of the US Open, Laykold, to revolutionize tennis’ environmental impact. The alliance brings together RecycleBalls expertise in collecting and re-purposing used tennis balls with Laykold’s advanced surfacing tech to create the “world’s greenest tennis surface.” Starting with the current US Open, recycled tennis balls will be transformed into next year’s courts, offsetting the yearly generated carbon equivalent of 26,000 cars.
Typically, tennis players open a new can of balls every time they play because of the quick decline in pressure and the lack of consistency in previously played balls. World Bank figures show that over 150 million tennis balls were imported into the USA alone in 2023. These balls, which carry a footprint of 1.2 pounds each, take nearly 400 years to decompose. This results in approximately 125 million used tennis balls ending up in American landfills every year, equating to more than 19,250,000 pounds. That is 20,000 metric tons of methane-producing, near non-decomposable rubber waste.
The partner’s innovative approach to this sustainability issue involves integrating recycled tennis balls into Laykold’s court surfacing systems. Depending on the system chosen, up to 10,000 recycled balls can be used per court. Pairing RecycleBalls’ network of 10,000 facilities, tournaments and volunteers with Laykolds global installation presence, will give tennis balls a second life.
RecycleBalls has been collecting US Open tournament balls since Laykold became the official surface of the tournament in 2020. It is reportedly the first organization in US tennis history with a large-scale collection solution for all tennis balls played in the country. It developed an international collection network and community, and convenient recycling bins that have helped repurpose over 14 million tennis balls into valuable materials for various uses. The nonprofit has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for innovation in circularity.
“Laykold is an extraordinary partner. When RecycleBalls faced our biggest challenge – finding a sustainable outlet for recycled tennis balls – Laykold stepped up with their signature innovation and unwavering commitment to quality. Together, we’ve not only overcome obstacles but are now poised for exponential impact. Looking ahead, I envision a world where recycling sports equipment is the norm and every ball stays in the game, finding new life on the very courts we play,” said Erin Cunningham, CEO of RecyleBalls.
The collaboration intends to build upon both organizations’ existing work, pushing for significant strides in tennis industry sustainably and showing that environmental responsibility and high-performance sports surfaces can coexist. Their combined goal is for all courts in the US and globally to be recycled from used tennis balls, while also inspiring similar initiatives across other sports.
Sun Life & Beyond Sport Get Kids Across Asia Active with Hoops + Health
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The “Hoops + Health” program – an initiative of leading Canadian financial services company Sun Life in partnership with Beyond Sport – is supporting coach development and youth physical and mental wellness across Asia. Today, we’re pleased to share the 2024 Impact Report and program video that details collective work to inspire healthy living among youth and foster healthier communities through basketball and education across six Asian locations.
Over the last six months, Hoops + Health touched down in Hong Kong, Depok (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Laguna (Philippines), Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), refurbishing basketball courts, offering free-to-access basketball sessions and hosting skill-based training for local coaches.
A 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report sponsored by Sun Life, shared the alarming fact that fewer than 20% of children aged 6-17 were achieving at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity across the week. And, across Asia, there are high levels of youth inactivity, contributing to diseases such as diabetes and obesity. In response, Hoops+ Health launched in September 2023 to encourage young people to be more physically active and lead healthier lives through basketball – with a special focus on engaging marginalized youth.
“Sport is not only a fantastic way to stay active and healthy, but it also imparts valuable life skills that extend beyond the court. However, the ability to access these benefits hinges on the availability of proper coaching infrastructure and facilities. The collaborative Hoops + Health program is dedicated to empowering local communities through sport, providing children and adults with safe and functional spaces for learning and development,” said Fred Turner, Executive Director for Beyond Sport.
In 2024, the program has positively impacted six communities providing access to renovated basketball courts, coach education workshops led by regional Hoops + Health Coach Education Partner, ASA Foundation, and grants to deliver health-focused basketball activities. So far, five courts have been refurbished and 85 coaches have been trained through health-focused basketball workshops, impacting over 14,000 lives. Sun Life raised $1 million CAD to support the initiative.
“At Sun Life, we recognize the vital role that sport plays in keeping young people active, healthy and engaged. Our Hoops + Health program is all about creating spaces where everyone, from complete beginners to aspiring athletes, can access coaching and training,” said David Broom, Chief Client and Distribution Officer at Sun Life Asia. “The results from the program have been truly inspiring. We hope these revitalized basketball courts will continue to be the beating heart of these local neighborhoods as we make positive strides towards nurturing a healthier, more active generation in Asia.”
In Fanling, Hong Kong, the Wah Sum Shopping Center’s rooftop basketball court was revitalized, now serving as a safe space for locals to play. The Center is a beacon for the local community and families on housing support. To amplify the program’s reach, we partnered with local non-profit, InspiringHK Sports Foundation to offer free youth basketball sessions tailored to the needs of various groups, including low-income and underprivileged families. Over eight weeks, coaches from the Foundation have conducted bi-weekly sessions, focusing on improving basketball skills and educating on the importance of physical health and wellbeing. Thanks to Hoops + Health, over 300 community members have access to a safer space to be active, supporting over 766 young people in Hong Kong.
In Depok, Indonesia, a refurbished multi-sport space is now a source of communal pride. It offers a free space for youth and families to engage in sports activities, including basketball, volleyball, fitness and football. Coach education workshops took place in June to enhance basketball skills and tools for promoting good health and wellbeing. Because of the program, over 600 people from the local community now access a safe space to be active. The local residents’ committee has also been supported to implement a range of new processes to improve the management of the court, including a court booking system to raise funds for annual maintenance that will ensure the court is sustained long into the future.
“Connection and community are at the heart of the Hoops + Health program,” said Adam Burgess, Beyond Sport’s Director of Programs. “Refurbishing a court is one thing, but creating a space for collaboration will build relationships, increase local pride in the court and ensure community ownership of the renovated space on the journey to promoting healthy living.”
In Singapore, the program has made strides with the local Heart of Basketball youth group that champions greater access to basketball for girls. Over three months, we provided free basketball sessions specifically aimed at empowering girls and young women. 11 coaches at the club also took part in education workshops emphasizing the importance of physical and mental wellbeing, which resulted in 91% of attendees feeling confident in their ability to immediately put the activities they learned into practice. Additionally, a group of coaches received a specialized Hoops + Health toolkit offering practical knowledge and activity ideas to supplement their work. To highlight the participants’ achievements, a 3×3 girls’ basketball tournament was held on May 31 to showcase the talents of the young girls and the unifying power of basketball in promoting healthier lifestyles.
In the Philippines’ Calauan, Laguna province, Sun Life and Beyond Sport helped transform a basketball court that is supporting more than 400 community members to lead healthier lives. Additionally, 12 weeks of free basketball sessions took place to help break down barriers to movement and local coaches were upskilled through workshops focused on how to better support young people through basketball. After learning about nutrition, physical activity and protecting mental wellbeing, the coaches will develop a basketball program to engage the local youth.
Managed by the local Residents’ Association, Beyond Sport also guided the community in revenue-generating strategies to sustain the court. This includes charging booking fees and renting out the space so that funds raised can help broaden impact.
In Kuala Ampang, Malaysia, the revitalized court is supporting close to 1,300 young people with a safer, more accessible space to be active in collaboration with the local Residents’ Association. The court’s reopening on May 23 featured Sun Life Malaysia employees and local youth celebrating with a friendly basketball match and traditional Lion Dance festivities. We also supported the local community in how to maintain the court and generate funds for its upkeep. Community sports clubs have the ability to book out the court on a weekly basis.
Jason Chan, President of the Residents’ Association of Kuala Ampang, shared, “With the refurbishment, the court now looks bright, vibrant, and more importantly, it serves as a safe space to attract more young talent in the Kuala Ampang neighborhood and surrounding areas to engage in sports. We would like to thank Sun Life for their contribution towards this community project.”
In Vietnam, Sun Life and Beyond Sport joined forces with professional basketball club, Saigon Heat, to open a transformed community court at the Heat’s sports facility in Ho Chi Minh City. Supporting over 3000 local youth, the facility offers regular community activities encouraging youth to embrace sports. Local girls also participated in basketball sessions focused on improving skills and overall wellbeing.
The refurbishment culminated in a celebratory inauguration with Sun Life Vietnam employees and the Saigon Heat community in attendance. The event opened with a display from youth basketball players and a unique court-opening moment showcasing the power of basketball in fostering healthier communities across Vietnam.
As one of the largest public companies in Canada, Sun Life serves millions in Canada, the US, Asia, the UK and other parts of the world with a goal to help its clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.
Ignite365 Award Recipient Spotlight: Our Q&A with Fenikks
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Transforming Plastic Waste into Football Products for Youth
August 30, 2024
On Tuesday, we were excited to announce the five inaugural recipients of the new annual Ignite365 Awards as part of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub—a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, Beyond Sport and Women Win. Each organization is advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in innovative ways and will receive an initial grant of $10,000 to support their projects.
Today, meet Argentina-based Fenikks, which is transforming plastic waste into shin guards for football players in 56 disadvantaged neighborhoods across seven regions of the country. The sporting goods manufacturer also focuses on local youth. For every pair of shin guards it sells, another is donated to a football club in the identified neighborhoods. So far, it has donated 3,000 pairs of shin guards and has plans to start creating football boots from plastic waste.
24-year-old Fenikks Founder and CEO, Tomás Machuca, spoke to us about Fenikks’ inception, the importance of sustainability and future plans for the organization:
Can you tell us about how the vision for Fenikks came about?
Fenikks was not born with the idea of transforming waste into shin guards, it was born because I didn’t have them. When I was 16 years old, I played football with the dream of improving the quality of life of my family. In a training session, my shin guards broke, and there was no money left at home to buy new ones. I decided to find a way to make my own. I took a bucket that I had lying around in the backyard, cut it with a saw, molded it with my grandmother’s hair dryer (which burned) and added a design with images of my family that I made in paint. I then printed it two blocks from my house with $60 pesos that I had saved to charge my school card to go to training. The next game I went to the club and my teammates asked me where I got them from, to which I answered out of embarrassment: “An uncle who lives in Buenos Aires sells them.” He didn’t exist.
I did not realize that I was missing the opportunity to develop a life project, which I decided to start when I was 17 years old in my last year of high school. Five years have passed and after having recycled more than 2000 kilos of plastic waste, delivered more than 5,000 pairs of shin pads to clubs in poor neighborhoods, recovered more than 1000 kilos of plastic waste in more than 50 clubs in 8 regions of Argentina and worked with 10 professional clubs in the country. I returned to the club where it all began to deliver 400 pairs of shin pads to all the children and youth divisions so that everyone can play.
It all started with a child who dreamed of improving the quality of life of his family through football, but football led me to work to improve the quality of life and living spaces in each of the neighborhoods that we reach.
Why is environmental sustainability important for your organization?
For us, it is important to give a new and useful life to plastic waste because it’s our way of keeping local living spaces clean and habitable. We’re showing communities in underserved neighborhoods that what they conceive as waste, can be revived as a useful and impactful tool.
How do you feel your work is contributing creative solutions to the SDGs?
Fenikks is unique because it leverages the sense of belonging and community that football generates to share the importance of taking responsible action for the environment. Sports teaches us how to relate to each other in order to grow, so the opportunity for it to be used to share the importance of caring for our planet is being wasted. That is what we embrace and promote, to create conditions where kids can grow and play in economically disadvantaged communities where waste – that would have ended up polluting our world – could be returned as equipment that they struggle to get.
What are the challenges facing Argentinian youth that you’re trying to address?
In Argentina, 57% of children and adolescents live below the poverty line. It is difficult for their families to put food on the table and, even more so, to be able to provide them with the necessary elements to practice sports. For this reason, at Fenikks we transform plastic waste collected in underserved neighborhood clubs into football shin guards. For each pair sold, we donate another to each of these clubs as a reward for taking responsible action for the environment. This allows young athletes to not only learn about sustainability but also helps them play football more equitably, with the necessary protection needed for matches.
Pablo, a coach at “Las Cebollitas de Cabildo,” a club in Barrio Cabildo, Cordoba Capital highlights perfectly how Fenikks impacts youth: “More than a solution, Fenikks fulfills a small part of kids’ dreams. There are many who don’t know that a football player uses protection in every game, the first time I showed the kids, they didn’t know what I was talking about. By putting on the shin guards they feel like a player, by having all the equipment they need, they feel like a player. This is partly powering their dream.”
Why is it important for you as a young change-maker to contribute to a sustainable future?
Because I believe it can generate equitable conditions for everyone. This is the basis for achieving transcendence in every disadvantaged community throughout the world. If stories and examples arise from these contexts with thousands of obstacles, we can go even further.
How will the Olympism365 Innovation Hub help boost your impact?
We believe that the Innovation Hub can help us expand our impact by connecting us with organizations that allow us to begin globalizing our mission, working towards using sport as a tool for transformation.
What is the future for Fenikks?
Fenikks seeks to lead the introduction of sustainability in sports, transforming as much plastic waste as possible. We dream that football players and elite sports organizations bet on playing with sustainable and high-performance equipment, rather than with brands that generate a negative impact. We work so that in every neighborhood where a child plays barefoot, we can share the importance of caring for and maintaining the cleanliness of living spaces and provide sports equipment of all kinds. Sport saves, inclusion empowers.
Stay tuned to hear from the other Award recipients over the coming weeks!
DC United, Twinning Project & Department of Corrections Partner Through Soccer
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Major League Soccer (MLS) club, D.C. United, has partnered with UK-based charity Twinning Project and the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) on an initiative to enhance inmate wellbeing and reentry through soccer education and sports leadership trainings. The eight-week program began on August 20 and is reaching incarcerated individuals at the Central Detention Facility (CDF) and Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) in Washington DC.
As of 2023, 5,000 people were incarcerated in Washington DC with an additional 5,700 on probation or parole. The capital has an incarceration rate of 816 per 100,000 people. According to the Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC), of approximately 8,000 incarcerated individuals who are released from prison each year, about 30% will go on to re-offend and end up in prison again within three years.
This initiative wants to reduce these statistics. Originating in the UK, the Twinning Project currently engages with over 70 Premier League and Championship-level clubs. The partnership between HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the professional soccer clubs aims to “twin” every prison in England and Wales with a local professional soccer club. It also delivers programs in Australia, Italy, South Africa and now, the US. The project uses soccer-based programs to improve inmates’ mental and physical health and wellbeing and obtain a qualification, which will help improve their life chances and gain employment on release.
As part of the project in DC, qualified coaches from D.C. United and the D.C. United Academy will visit the facility twice a week to provide training and educational support to low-risk, pre-qualified inmates approaching release. The program intends to enhance participants’ critical life skills, including patience, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and confidence, while also improving their physical and mental well-being.
“The Twinning Project is delighted to be expanding its US footprint with our valuable partners D.C. United and DOC. Over the last six years, the Twinning Projects, a proven criminal justice sports-based intervention, has been delivering encouraging results with significant impact. D.C. United and DOC join a host of professional sporting brands and correctional facilities on four continents delivering this valuable inspirational work,” said Hilton Freund MBE, Global CEO of the Twinning Project.
Many prisoners have been excluded from school and have developed a resistance to learning and exercise according to the charity. While most prisoners are reluctant to engage with mainstream educational and vocational training offered in prisons, the Twinning Project reports that once in custody, prisoners participate in 1-2 sessions of physical activity per week. Therefore, it “engages the disengaged” by using soccer to help break barriers through professional coaches and referees and uses sport as a catalyst for change.
The program, designed to be fun, engaging, and challenging, will utilize both indoor and outdoor areas within DOC facilities.
“Over 95% of the individuals in our care will eventually return home and the critical work of providing them with the tools and opportunities needed for successful reentry starts as soon as they enter our facilities… Programs like this play a critical role in enhancing physical and mental well-being of our residents and offer creative outlets that reduce tension and contribute to a positive environment,” said Thomas Faust, Director of the DC DOC.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opened this past Wednesday, including a Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) that is the largest-ever. Representing the more than 120 million displaced people worldwide, the team is hosted in six countries and will compete across six sports.
The eight athletes and two guide runners are also part of the estimated 18 million people with disabilities who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to war, conflict, violence and human rights violations. They often face higher risks of violence, discrimination, exploitation and abuse, as well as barriers in accessing critical support, assistance, education and sporting and livelihood opportunities.
The RPT debuted at the Rio 2016 Paralympics with only two athletes – growing to a team of six at Tokyo 2020 and now eight at Paris 2024. They are competing in Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon and wheelchair fencing. T11 Para athletics sprinter Guillaume Junior Atangana was the team’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony.
“The RPT is an inspiration to us all. These incredible athletes have overcome unimaginable adversity to achieve the highest pinnacle of sporting success,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. “RPT’s presence on the global stage sends a message of hope to millions of refugees across the world and indeed to all of us. This remarkable team reminds us of how important it is for people with disabilities to have a chance to fully participate in society on an equal basis.”
Afghan Para taekwondo star Zakia Khudadadi advocates for women’s and refugee rights. Now living in France, she fled her country after the Taliban seized power. After a desperate video appeal, she was smuggled out of Kabul, and within a few days, was competing in Tokyo 2020 — becoming the first Afghan woman to appear at the Games since 2004.
“This is a chance to inspire… To show women and girls that they are more than they’re made [to] feel by the Taliban. To show that the women of Afghanistan are strong and can achieve great things,” she said. On Thursday, Khudadadi made history when she won the first-ever Paralympic medal for the refugee team — a bronze in the women’s K44 -47kg category.
Accommodation rental company, Airbnb is supporting the RPT with training and other expenses for the 2024 Games. “[In 2020], Airbnb helped me a lot to have food on my plate, to pay my rent, to pay my expenses. If Airbnb hadn’t been by my side at that time, I wouldn’t have been able to practice… I would have to stop doing sports,” said Ibrahim Al-Hussein, a Para triathlete who is a refugee from Syria.
This builds on Airbnb’s longstanding commitment to support refugees and displaced people. Since its founding in 2020, non-profit Airbnb.org has worked with organizations around the world to provide over 1.4 million nights of free, temporary housing to more than 210,000 refugees and asylum seekers.
The Paralympic Games celebrate human achievement and diversity. The RPT is a perfect example of this, and it intends to inspire viewers worldwide to embrace differences and raise awareness of the plight of refugees and displaced people worldwide. As Khudadadi told The Guardian: “We need to make people understand that refugees have a right to asylum, that they had to flee their countries because of the situation they were in. We need to make people understand the reality of what refugees are going through.”
Olympism365 Innovation Hub Announces 1st Ignite365 Award Recipients
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August 30, 2024
We’re thrilled to recognize and celebrate the first-ever Ignite365 Awards recipients– five projects using unique ways to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sport. The Ignite365 Awards are the first initiative of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, a collaboration between the IOC, Beyond Sport and Women Win to advance new ideas and technologies to maximize sport’s impact.
The awardees include Fenikks (Argentina), Grass Skirt Project (Papua New Guinea), Never Stop Playing Sports (Japan), touch2see (France) and WeSwim CIC (UK). Selected for their inventive projects that are reducing plastic waste, creating sustainable sports facilities, educating student-athletes on menstrual health, making live sports more accessible and helping people with disabilities stay active, each will receive a $10,000 grant to support their work.
In celebrating their achievements, the new annual award aims to inspire further innovation and collaboration in sport for sustainable development, driving positive change in communities worldwide. Additional funding opportunities will open later this year including for Collective365 and Tech365. Learn more here.
“As a consortia, we’re thrilled to support concrete solutions to complex global issues through cutting-edge sports initiatives that are already uplifting communities around the world. This is just one part of our efforts as the Olympism365 Innovation Hub to impact thousands of people through thought leadership, investment and collaboration by 2026,” shared Beyond Sport Executive Director, Fred Turner and Women Win GRLS Director Nicole Matuska.
The Ignite365 Call for Innovations in Sport for Sustainable Development received more than 200 applications from 86 countries. All submissions were reviewed through a shortlisting process and by a participatory Review Committee inclusive of five experts representing sport for development, social enterprise, technology and youth leaders in the sector to finalize these five innovators.
“The Ignite365 Awards celebrate innovators whose creative solutions use sport in new and impactful ways to address key challenges faced in their communities such as accessibility, inequality and discrimination and plastic recycling. In doing so, the Ignite365 Awards aim to not only support their work but to inspire further innovation and collaboration,” said IOC Olympism365 Associate Director, Ollie Dudfield.
The funding will support existing projects that are pioneering new technologies, inclusive program designs and climate-positive models that have not typically been seen or implemented in the sport for development sector. They will also join the Olympism365 Innovation Hub’s growing network of collaborators, contributing to its impact while benefiting from opportunities for knowledge-sharing.
MEET THE 2024 IGNITE365 RECIPIENTS
Fenikks – Argentina
Fenikks transforms plastic waste into football shin guards. For each pair sold, another pair is given as an incentive for responsible environmental action to clubs in neighborhoods in need. So far, they’ve donated 3,000 pairs of shin guards made of recycled plastic. Fenikks also provides collection points in 56 neighborhoods across seven regions of Argentina to help cut down on plastic waste and pollution. Their next step is to create football boots from plastic waste and continue donating a pair for every pair sold.
“For me, being recognized by the Olympism365 Innovation Hub means an opportunity to broaden our impact and movement, which believes that sport can transform reality. It’s a huge step in our career and we’re really excited to start connecting with each other,” said Tomás Machuca, Fenikks Founder and CEO.
Grass Skirt Project – Papua New Guinea
The Grass Skirt Project (GSP) is dedicated to leveraging sports to drive social change in Papua New Guinea. GSP empowers youth, particularly women and girls, by promoting gender equality, health and leadership. Their innovation, Gymbox, repurposes shipping containers to provide mobile and sustainable fitness facilities, health education and community engagement opportunities. In just two years, the program has grown from 3,500 visits to 7,500 visits, and impacted communities have seen improved health outcomes, reduced crime rates and positive shifts in attitudes toward gender equality.
“Being selected for the Olympism365 Innovation Hub investment empowers Grass Skirt Project to enhance Gymbox and ten million strong leadership programs, aiming to create one million youth leaders by 2050, fostering safer communities and gender equality through sports,” said Tahina Booth, Grass Skirt Project Managing Director and Founder.
Never Stop Playing Sports – Japan
Never Stop Playing Sports launched in 2020 as a project for student-athletes who were unable to play sports during COVID-19. Their innovation, the 1252 Project, is Japan’s first educational program that provides menstrual health education and support for student-athletes to ensure they can keep playing. The initiative supports youth through educational platforms that provide reliable information, advice and guidance about menstruation, as well as an online textbook designed to increase community outreach and engagement.
“We feel honored to be selected for the Olympism365 Innovation Hub investment.
By utilizing this opportunity and grant, we aim to disseminate the knowledge of physiology and sports all over the world through the collaborative efforts with global partners,” said Hanae Ito, Never Stop Playing Sports Chairman.
touch2see – France
touch2see is developing a touch-sensitive tablet that helps the visually impaired to follow live sporting events. Using technology initially developed for sports broadcasters, coaches and journalists, the real-time sports data transmits the coordinates of the players and the ball, as well as contextual match data to the tablet. The tablet provides automated audio description and transmits the position of the ball via a magnetic cursor, with vibrations to translate the intensity of the game. This innovation enables live sport to be more inclusive and accessible to visually impaired fans.
“For us it means placing touch2see onto a global framework for policy development that will help us supercharge accessibility for visually impaired sports fans not just in France but all around the world,” said Arthur Chazelle touch2see Founder and CEO.
WeSwim CIC – UK
By creating communities around our swimming clubs, WeSwim provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to be active and connect with others. Volunteers offer personalized support, enabling participants to perform physiotherapy exercises, learn to swim or simply gain confidence in the water. A community-centric, volunteer-driven approach is at the heart of WeSwim’s innovation, ensuring sustainable and inclusive access to physical activity for disabled people.
“I am truly honored to have WeSwim’s innovative work recognized, the support will enable us to expand our program to help more disabled adults enjoy the freedom of movement in the water and the motivation to stay active,” said Tash Fleming, WeSwim Founder and Director.
Get to know more about the 2024 Ignite365 Award winners over the coming weeks starting with Fenikks.
WNBA’s Nneka Ogwumike Takes On Leadership of ‘More Than a Vote’
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More Than a Vote, the civic engagement nonprofit founded in 2020 by four-time NBA MVP and Los Angeles Lakers legend Lebron James is refocusing on women and reproductive rights this year. James has announced that he is passing on the organization’s leadership to nine-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike in the lead up to the American Presidential election on November 5, stating, “It’s only right that this election be about women athletes.”
More Than a Vote was created as a call to action following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police. James and a group of Black athletes and entertainers teamed up to encourage African Americans to register to vote and tackle voter suppression by raising awareness of its tactics, such as misinformation spread through social media. The group advocated for criminal justice reform and opposed police violence. It helped turn 10 sport arenas into voting sites and partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to recruit poll workers during the 2020 general election, signing up more than 10,000 volunteers. The organization raised about $4.2 million in 2020.
Many WNBA players and teams were extremely active during the last presidential election cycle and since. With the Presidential election approaching, James has shifted the focus of More Than a Vote to align with current issues surrounding women’s reproductive rights. Early this year, he started discussions with Seattle Storm Forward and the players union president, Ogwumike, who volunteered as a poll worker in 2020. They spoke about current issues facing the US, such as abortion rights and the increased attention on women’s sports.
In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade – the landmark 1973 ruling that gave women the constitutional right to abortion. Since then, in 28 states access to abortion has been restricted and 14 have made it illegal. Last month, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos have the same rights as children under state law. Actions such as this are continuing to put women’s health in danger across the country. Additionally, access to birth control is out of reach for many and the country has a high maternal mortality rate – ranking 55th in the world.
“I started More Than a Vote to give athletes a place to educate themselves and get active authentically to who we are,” said James in an email. “It’s only right that this election be about women athletes. We’re all following their lead right now and Nneka is the perfect person for this election. I’m excited to support her vision.”
“It’s more than just abortion,” Ogwumike said in an interview. “It’s all about educating people about all the different roles that exist in society that support and protect the freedoms of women when it comes to family planning, IVF, birth control, everything. There’s just a lot that’s at stake.”
More Than A Vote will partner with Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation to exclusively focus on women’s rights and reproductive freedoms with support from Athletes for Impact – a coalition of athletes using their status and platforms for social change and transformation. Ogwumike will be accompanied by a group of women athletes who all feel strongly about the cause, including fellow basketball players Cameron Brink, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Lisa Leslie, Jewell Lloyd, Chiney Ogwumike, Kiki Rice, Breanna Stewart, Sheryl Swoopes and A’ja Wilson, as well as the NWSL’s Madison Hammond.
“Women’s sports have experienced incredible growth over the course of my 13-year career in the WNBA. But over that very same span, I’ve watched legislators chip away at my rights and the rights of every athlete who make these teams and leagues shine,” said Ogwumike in a statement. “We cannot stand idly by as women’s freedoms slip away, and that’s why I’m taking a lead through More Than a Vote to educate and prompt action around this issue. ‘We Decide Our Future’ sends a very clear message: no one else should have the power to make decisions over our bodies and our healthcare.”
The group’s 2024 senior campaign adviser is Stephanie Schriock, who was the president of EMILYs List – an organization dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women to office. She explains how the non-profit has begun working with athletes on how to speak about issues related to reproductive rights and how it has hired content creators for digital advertisements to raise awareness. The organization outlined its new focus in a new video that stated: “They want to put bans on our bodies, but our body is our business”.
