Qatar Foundation, Education Above All Foundation, and the International Olympic Committee have announced a new collaboration aimed at using the power of sports to promote equality, inclusion, and education across Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region. This partnership, part of the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, will focus on women and girls, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities in over 10 countries, including Qatar, Sudan, and India. The project aims to reach up to 50,000 children and youth through community sports programs, campaigns, and partnerships that promote gender equality and inclusion.
The three-year initiative will train up to 5,000 coaches, teachers, and instructors to promote equality and inclusion through sports, with education-focused digital interventions reaching hundreds of thousands more young people. The project’s goals include increasing accessible, gender-inclusive, safe, and sustainable sporting opportunities; unlocking new funding pathways for equality and inclusion; raising awareness of sports as a catalyst for individual and societal development; and urging governments and stakeholders to take action in using sports for advancement. This collaboration between Qatar Foundation, Education Above All Foundation, and the IOC aims to empower young people and promote inclusion and gender equality through sports.
Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani emphasized the importance of sports in improving lives and achieving personal fulfillment. She highlighted Qatar Foundation’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender, ability, socio-economic status, or religious background. This collaboration reinforces Qatar Foundation’s efforts to ensure equitable access to sports for everyone, while also working towards justice and equality through the power of sports.
President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, praised the collaboration for empowering thousands of young people and promoting inclusion and gender equality through sports. The initiative aims to demonstrate how partnerships can make significant strides in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while creating a lasting impact on the lives of young people and building a more inclusive world. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, CEO of Education Above All Foundation, expressed pleasure in collaborating on a project that will engage up to 50,000 children and youth in digital education interventions and sport-for-good projects across various countries.
The project will work closely with stakeholders in each targeted country, incorporating sports into existing programs and educational curricula, funding initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion, encouraging behavioral change, and informing policy development through knowledge creation and evidence. This collaboration underscores the importance of sports as a tool for social change and highlights the commitment of Qatar Foundation, Education Above All Foundation, and the International Olympic Committee towards promoting equality, inclusion, and education through sports. Together, they are striving to create a more inclusive and equal world for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
