Empowering Youth Through Sport: IOC’s Bike for Future and Olympism365 Initiative
With the Olympism365 Summit just weeks away, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is spotlighting the power of sport as a tool for economic empowerment. One standout example is Bike for Future, an initiative led by Plan International Rwanda with support from the IOC and additional partners. The programme taps into the potential of the bicycle industry to equip young women with essential life skills, paving the way for educational advancement, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship.
This initiative is part of the broader Sport, Education and Livelihoods in Africa programme, which began in January 2024. A collaborative effort between the IOC, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Laureus Sport for Good, and 28 local partners, the initiative supports 28 grassroots projects across 14 African countries. Together, they aim to enhance youth employability and access to education through community-based sport.
Bike for Future is helping young women access valuable vocational training, particularly in fields where women are underrepresented, such as welding, tailoring, bicycle mechanics, and electrical trades. In addition to training, participants receive startup kits, seed funding, and lessons in financial literacy—key resources to help launch their own businesses.
Alongside vocational training, the programme encourages girls to engage in sport by establishing two all-female cycling teams. These teams are provided with bicycles and necessary equipment to train weekly and compete monthly in Rwanda’s youth racing cups, organized by the Rwanda Cycling Federation.
Amina’s Story: Redefining Possibilities for Girls
Amina, a passionate young cyclist, is one of the programme’s success stories. Although her family’s financial challenges made it difficult to pursue her dream, her dedication never wavered. After joining the Bike for Future cycling team, she gained access to expert coaching, a quality bike, and mentorship. Amina quickly made her mark, consistently placing in the top three in races and gaining attention from national selectors. She now aspires to compete for Rwanda at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
“Girls need platforms to show what they’re capable of,” Amina shared. “Winning has made me more focused and resilient. I want to represent my country and inspire other girls to chase their dreams.”
Her journey demonstrates how sport can break down barriers, shift gender norms, and empower girls to believe in their potential.
A Global Push for Education and Employment
Globally, nearly 25% of young people are not engaged in education, work, or training, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Programmes like Bike for Future exemplify the IOC’s ongoing commitment to using sport to address this issue and boost youth employability.
Beyond Africa, similar IOC-led efforts are making a difference in Latin America and the Caribbean. One such project, Campeonas 2.4, operates in Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina, supporting over 400 girls. It combines football with education on gender equality, health (including sexual and reproductive rights), digital skills, and vocational training, particularly in underserved communities.
Olympism365: Sport as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development
Initiatives like Bike for Future and Campeonas 2.4 are part of the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy—launched under the Olympic Agenda 2020+5—which aims to enhance sport’s contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programmes reflect the power of collaboration between the sports sector, social development organisations, and purpose-driven enterprises.
More than 550 such initiatives are supported through the IOC’s Olympism365 platform. Their collective impact will be celebrated at the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, held from 3 to 5 June in Lausanne, Switzerland. This invitation-only event will gather leaders from the Olympic Movement, the UN, civil society, and other stakeholders to share successes and strengthen sport’s role as a driver of positive global change.
This initiative is part of the broader Sport, Education and Livelihoods in Africa programme, which began in January 2024. A collaborative effort between the IOC, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Laureus Sport for Good, and 28 local partners, the initiative supports 28 grassroots projects across 14 African countries. Together, they aim to enhance youth employability and access to education through community-based sport.
Bike for Future is helping young women access valuable vocational training, particularly in fields where women are underrepresented, such as welding, tailoring, bicycle mechanics, and electrical trades. In addition to training, participants receive startup kits, seed funding, and lessons in financial literacy—key resources to help launch their own businesses.
Alongside vocational training, the programme encourages girls to engage in sport by establishing two all-female cycling teams. These teams are provided with bicycles and necessary equipment to train weekly and compete monthly in Rwanda’s youth racing cups, organized by the Rwanda Cycling Federation.
Amina’s Story: Redefining Possibilities for Girls
Amina, a passionate young cyclist, is one of the programme’s success stories. Although her family’s financial challenges made it difficult to pursue her dream, her dedication never wavered. After joining the Bike for Future cycling team, she gained access to expert coaching, a quality bike, and mentorship. Amina quickly made her mark, consistently placing in the top three in races and gaining attention from national selectors. She now aspires to compete for Rwanda at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.
“Girls need platforms to show what they’re capable of,” Amina shared. “Winning has made me more focused and resilient. I want to represent my country and inspire other girls to chase their dreams.”
Her journey demonstrates how sport can break down barriers, shift gender norms, and empower girls to believe in their potential.
A Global Push for Education and Employment
Globally, nearly 25% of young people are not engaged in education, work, or training, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Programmes like Bike for Future exemplify the IOC’s ongoing commitment to using sport to address this issue and boost youth employability.
Beyond Africa, similar IOC-led efforts are making a difference in Latin America and the Caribbean. One such project, Campeonas 2.4, operates in Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina, supporting over 400 girls. It combines football with education on gender equality, health (including sexual and reproductive rights), digital skills, and vocational training, particularly in underserved communities.
Olympism365: Sport as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development
Initiatives like Bike for Future and Campeonas 2.4 are part of the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy—launched under the Olympic Agenda 2020+5—which aims to enhance sport’s contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programmes reflect the power of collaboration between the sports sector, social development organisations, and purpose-driven enterprises.
More than 550 such initiatives are supported through the IOC’s Olympism365 platform. Their collective impact will be celebrated at the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, held from 3 to 5 June in Lausanne, Switzerland. This invitation-only event will gather leaders from the Olympic Movement, the UN, civil society, and other stakeholders to share successes and strengthen sport’s role as a driver of positive global change.
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