06 May 2024 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC), as part of its Olympism365 strategy, has announced a new collaboration with the Qatar Foundation. Working with a coalition of stakeholders, the two organisations will 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” initiative is looking to:

• benefit 50,000 young people through community sport programmes promoting gender equality 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;
• mobilise 50 collaborating organisations, including the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the countries involved.

The agreement was signed on 29 April in Doha, Qatar, in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach, at Qatar Foundation’s Education City Stadium, one of eight stadiums used during the FIFA World Cup 2022™. In its legacy phase, the stadium is now a hub for women’s and girls’ sport.

“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 President 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.”

Thomas Bach – IOC President

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation, said: “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.”

“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.”

T”he work of the IOC has the potential to bring great benefits to the lives of young people in Qatar and across the region. We look forward to supporting the Olympic Movement in its goal of shaping a more inclusive, empowered world, and hope this partnership will be just the start of an enduring collaboration that drives positive, tangible impact.”

Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani
Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation

Contribution to UN SDGs

This new joint initiative will contribute to UNSDG Goal 5, on gender equality, and Goal 10, on reduced inequalities, and will feature a wide-ranging approach to tackle these issues across Asia. This includes community sport for development programmes that use sport as a platform for gender equality advocacy, and the implementation of an adapted version of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), which is designed to foster gender equality within the education system.

To further strengthen these efforts, the initiative will also focus on training practitioners and supporting policy changes that reinforce gender equality in and through sport, while launching digital campaigns to help promote equality and inclusion to wider audiences.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1995 that supports the human, social and economic development of Qatar through its ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development, with its programmes and initiatives generating impact on a domestic, regional and international level. It has a central role in advancing sporting opportunities for all members of society, including for women and girls, in Qatar.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa.