WOA 2019 Grants Programme launched at World Olympians Forum

17 | 4 | 2019

World Olympians Association's 2019 Grants Programme has been officially launched at the World Olympians Forum in Lausanne today, which also saw the WOA’s first-ever Grants Challenge take place.

The WOA Grants Programme empowers Olympians to deliver projects that serve the needs of Olympians and helps them to spread the spirit of Olympism in their countries, in line with WOA’s core mission.

Applications for 2019 funding are now open for the following categories:

• Service to Olympians
• Service to Society
• NOA Development

Grants of up to $5,000 USD each are available to support Olympian-led projects that benefit Olympians or local communities. CLICK HERE to apply and find out more important information.

Since 2016, WOA has given more than 120 grants to support NOAs worldwide. Projects have ranged from drowning prevention programmes in India and Lithuania, an Olympian-run community chicken farm in Zimbabwe, bringing sport to orphaned children in Malaysia and those affected by conflict in Colombia.

Grants Challenge

As part of the today’s launch at the World Olympians Forum, Olympians were invited to participate in the first-ever, live action Grants Challenge.

Five National Olympians Associations pitched their project ideas in front of an expert jury and fellow Olympians at the Forum to determine who would take home the additional $10,000 USD in funding on offer.

“There were some fantastic, creative ideas for projects that really captured the spirit of the Forum and the philosophy behind the Grants Programme,” said WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY. “We’ve been blown away by the calibre of the presentations and the passion that has gone into them. It has been a truly valuable exercise, offering Olympians real-life experience at pitching for funding.”

The winning projects came from Colombia and Lithuania, each picking up a $5,000 USD cash grant.

Colombia’s project, led by Jimmy Pino OLY, is an Olympian-led mentoring programme that will support the empowerment of women in sport and in their communities, while Lithuania’s project, pitched by Birute Statkeviciene OLY, will see Olympians promote, activate and diversify the life of the elderly, orphans and the disabled through sports and physical activity.

“I would like to congratulate Colombia and Lithuania on their winning pitches and to thank our expert panel of judges who assisted us here in Lausanne,” added President Bouzou. “I would also like to encourage all NOAs who have been inspired by today to get involved and apply for funding through the 2019 Grants Programme. As we have seen from previous years, this funding can and does make a vital difference to Olympians and their communities.”

The deadline to apply for the WOA 2019 Grants Programme is 30 June 2019. The WOA Grants Panel, composed of WOA Executive Committee members from each continent, will oversee and award the grants. Joint applications between NOCs and NOAs are welcomed.

For more information and to apply please visit: https://olympians.org/noas/grants/