Sport in Africa is no longer just a competitive expression—it is becoming a tool for social transformation. As the continent prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, a growing network of initiatives is emerging, recognizing physical activity as a common language capable of fostering belonging, confidence, and opportunity. On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has highlighted this quiet yet profound impact, already reshaping realities across different communities.

Through its Olympism365 strategy, the IOC has supported programs that go beyond promoting sport, integrating essential values such as inclusion, gender equality, and education. Since 2022, more than 640,000 young people have benefited from these initiatives across the continent, reflecting growth that goes beyond numbers—these are stories of individual and collective transformation that find their starting point in sport.

Sport as a space for learning and belonging

In Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, a football field becomes much more than a place to play. For Espoir, a 15-year-old participant, the O!YES program represents an opportunity to learn how to live within a community. Through sports activities combined with educational workshops, young people develop not only physical skills but also tools to navigate their environment. “We learned that, as children, we deserve respect,” he explains, reflecting an awareness that goes beyond the field.

The impact of O!YES, present in Olympafrica centers across 23 countries, is measured both in numbers and in visible change. In its latest edition, more than 96,000 young people took part in the program, showing significant improvements in social skills and in the adoption of Olympic values such as teamwork and fair play. For educators like Thiérry Mbembo, these advances translate into real transformations: children who are more confident, more open, and better able to relate to their school and social environments.

Initiatives addressing social challenges through sport

Thousands of kilometers away, in Madagascar, sport is also being used to tackle deeper social issues. The Ampi’zay project, whose name means “Enough,” uses rugby and education as tools to address gender-based violence and promote safer environments. Implemented in several cities, the program combines teacher training, mixed-gender sports activities, and community workshops that encourage participants to challenge entrenched norms.

The changes are evident in the stories emerging from classrooms. Teachers like Richard have witnessed how students with aggressive behavior begin to transform their attitudes, developing empathy and building healthier relationships. With nearly 4,000 beneficiaries—most of them children—Ampi’zay is part of a broader network of initiatives supported by the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, where sport is positioned as a driver of change, capable of creating safe spaces, fostering dialogue, and strengthening the social fabric within diverse communities.