The Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been selected for the HundrED Global Collection 2027, an initiative that recognises the world’s 100 most outstanding educational innovations for their impact and potential for expansion. This recognition highlights the international reach of a project that uses sport as a tool to promote the holistic development of children and young people.
Implemented in 139 countries and reaching more than 60 million young people, OVEP has established itself as an educational initiative that integrates Olympic values into different learning environments. Its selection for this collection represents an opportunity to expand its reach and bring its resources to more educational communities, teachers and organisations interested in values-based education.
OVEP: an educational innovation recognised worldwide
OVEP’s selection for the HundrED Global Collection 2027 came from more than 800 international submissions, following an evaluation process involving over 200 education experts. HundrED identifies 100 educational innovations each year that stand out for their ability to generate positive change in education systems and for the potential to adapt their methodologies to different contexts. In this regard, the IOC programme was recognised for its flexible approach, international reach and ability to connect sports practice with learning.
Through activities and educational resources, OVEP aims to help young people understand and experience the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship in everyday situations. Its methodology also promotes the development of essential life skills, such as teamwork, resilience and decision-making. In this way, sport becomes a learning environment that goes beyond competition and helps strengthen coexistence, responsibility and personal development both inside and outside the school environment.
A programme reaching 139 countries and more than 60 million young people
OVEP’s growth is also reflected in its geographical expansion. Its initiatives have been implemented in 139 countries across five continents, including 35 new countries in 2026. One of the most notable examples can be found in Senegal, where, as part of preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, more than one million students have benefited from the Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif (BOCS) programme, an educational initiative based on OVEP’s principles. This experience demonstrates how Olympic values can be integrated into large-scale educational projects and adapted to the needs of each community.
For Yasmin Meichtry, interim Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, this recognition represents an opportunity to further extend the programme’s reach. She highlighted that OVEP contributes to the IOC’s «Fit for the Future» ambition, which seeks to transform lives through sport and Olympic values, providing young people with skills they can apply in education, work and everyday life. The programme also has a track record of international recognition: in 2024, it received the award in the Fostering Values and Ethics category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards, after competing against more than 1,300 submissions from over 90 countries.
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