Less than a month before the Olympism365 Summit, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has highlighted Bike for Future, a project that exemplifies how sport can economically empower young women. Driven by Plan International Rwanda with support from the IOC, this initiative provides girls with vocational training, access to education, and tools for entrepreneurship—all through the opportunities offered by the bicycle industry. Its holistic approach allows Rwandan girls to develop technical skills, receive seed capital, and train in fields such as welding, electricity, or bike mechanics, traditionally dominated by men.
Bike for Future is part of the “Sport, Education and Livelihoods in Africa” initiative, a collaborative effort currently supporting 28 community-based projects across 14 African countries. In addition to the training and entrepreneurial components, the Rwandan program has also created spaces for sport practice, founding two girls’ cycling teams, ensuring regular participation in youth cups, and providing bicycles and essential gear. In this way, it fosters confidence, autonomy, and inclusion among teenage girls, transforming their life paths through sport.
Olympism365: a global strategy that transforms lives
The success of Bike for Future is part of the Olympism365 strategy from the IOC, which seeks to use sport as a tool to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This vision goes beyond Africa: in Latin America and the Caribbean, hundreds of girls and teenagers are also benefiting from programs such as Campeonas 2.4, active in Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina. This initiative encourages girls’ participation in football, while also providing education on health, gender equality, digital literacy, and career guidance, especially in rural and indigenous communities.
Both projects will be featured at the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, to be held from June 3 to 5 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The event will bring together representatives from the Olympic Movement, UN agencies, development institutions, and purpose-driven businesses, aiming to strengthen partnerships and reinforce sport’s role as a catalyst for sustainable development. Initiatives like Bike for Future not only reflect this purpose but also demonstrate the real impact Olympism can have beyond competition.
