The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is for young people who greatly desire to make a difference around the world. The Young Leaders program empowers young leaders to use the power of sport to address social challenges in their communities. In February, 2025, 25 participants across the world would be selected to be the young leaders to foster this change.

The International Olympic Committee Young Leaders Program has been able to support more than 160 projects since 2016. This has benefitted over 37,000 people in diverse areas including health, equality, education, sustainability, and peace-building. More details below:

Eligibility

To be considered for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Age: You must be between 20 and 28 years old in 2024.
• Learning Sprint: You must have successfully completed the 4-Week Learning Sprint (earning a Certificate of Participation).
• Project Proposal: You will need to submit a plan for a program, project, or social business that uses sport as a tool for sustainable development. The plan should address a specific community issue related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and be connected to Olympic values.
• Education: A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience: At least one year of work experience (internships and part-time jobs count).

Requirements

• Any young person aged 20-28 can register for the 4-Week Learning Sprint by October 21, 2024.
• After completing the Learning Sprint, participants become eligible to apply for the International Olympic Committee Young Leaders Programme (applications open from November 18 to December 16, 2024).

Benefits

Selected participants will receive:

• Seed-funding of CHF 10,000 over four years to develop their grassroots projects.
• Access to monthly workshops, global gatherings, coaching, and networking opportunities.
• Dedicated support from the IOC and a network of mentors.

Application Process

Phase 1: 4-Week Learning Sprint

• Registration for the sprint opened on September 25 and closes on October 21, 2024.
• The sprint consists of four virtual sessions held weekly from October 22 to November 12, 2024.
• Learning materials and session recordings will be available starting October 15, 2024, on the Learning Hub.

Phase 2: IOC Young Leaders Programme Application

• After successfully completing the Learning Sprint, participants become eligible to apply for the International Olympic Committee Young Leaders Programme.
• The application period runs from November 18 to December 16, 2024.

For more details, visit the Official Webpage of the International Olympic Committee Young Leaders Programme.