IOC and Qatar Foundation to tackle inequality through sporting collaboration

Working alongside a coalition of stakeholders, the two organisations will look to implement community projects in 10 countries across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa to promote equality, diversity and inclusion through sport.

The ‘Sport, Equality and Inclusive Communities’ project will hope to benefit up to 50,000 young people through community sport programmes that promote gender quality and inclusion; reach an additional two million young people through digital activations; train 5,000 coaches, teachers and instructors to promote gender equality through sport; and mobilise 50 collaborating organisers, including the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the countries involved.

“This new collaboration between the IOC and the Qatar Foundation underscores our collective commitment to harnessing the vital contribution sport can make to education and as an accelerator of sustainable development,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“This collaboration will not only empower thousands of young people but also serve as a catalyst for promoting inclusion and gender equality through sport. With this initiative, we aim to demonstrate how innovative partnerships can help make significant strides in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), while creating a lasting impact on the lives of young people and helping to build a more inclusive and equal world.”

The new joint programme will contribute to UNSDG Goal 5, on gender equality, and Goal 10, on reduced inequalities. It will feature a wide-ranging approach in order to tackle issues across Asia, including community sport for development programmes, as well as the implementation of an adapted version of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP).

“At the Qatar Foundation, we are continually committed to advancing progressive education, social progress and opportunities for empowerment – all of which are at the core of strong and vibrant communities and nations,” said Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation.

“This commitment closely aligns with the IOC’s focus on harnessing the power of sport and the Olympic values to foster more inclusive societies, and for the Qatar Foundation, this partnership represents an opportunity to continue our efforts in the field of sporting accessibility and inclusivity that were central to our contribution to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

Image: Qatar Foundation