Six Inspiring Projects Awarded 2018 WOA Service to Society Grants

MONACO - Six inspiring, Olympian-led projects have been awarded 2018 Service to Society grants by World Olympians Association.

The successful recipients from Palau, Japan, Moldova, Cape Verde, Chile and the United States of America, spanning all five continents, will each receive US five thousand dollars ($5,000) towards the running costs of their projects as part of WOA’s mission to empower Olympians to make a positive difference in their communities and build a better society through sport.

The projects, supported by each country’s National Olympians Association, align with the Olympic values and the activities of the Olympic Movement.

They each aim to spread the spirit of Olympism across a range of themes including youth engagement and education, inclusion, sport for all, and gender equality.

The 2018 Service to Society projects are:

-Maximising the appeal of Olympic sport - Palau Olympians Association [Oceania]

Using Olympic combat sports to increase youth participation in Palau

-Dream big, inspire a generation - Olympians Association of Japan [Asia]

Supporting Olympic education in schools in the lead up to Tokyo 2020

-Building an inclusive culture of Olympism - Moldova Olympians Association [Europe]

Inspiring youth engagement in underprivileged communities in Moldova

-Olympians for Sports4Life - Cape Verde Olympians Association [Africa]

Enhancing participation and leadership opportunities for women in sport in Cape Verde

-Olympics for the Youth - Chilean Olympians Association [Americas]

Providing access to sport for vulnerable children in Chile

-Wish of a Lifetime - US Olympians and Paralympians Association [Americas]

Granting the wishes of senior citizens while promoting respect for older generations.

Since WOA’s Service to Society Grants were established in 2016, communities around the world have benefited from the projects funded.

From a drowning prevention education program in India, to an Olympian-run chicken farm in Zimbabwe that is funding the ongoing development and career transition of the county’s Olympians, to bringing the Olympic values to children in post-conflict zones in Colombia, the projects have demonstrated the strong desire of Olympians to make a positive impact in their communities.

WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY said:

"We are thrilled to be able to help fund these six inspiring, Olympian-led projects in 2018 through our Service to Society grants.

"We firmly believe that Olympians have the ability to make a genuine difference in their communities, spreading the spirit and practice of Olympism to drive positive social change.

"Over the past 12 months, we have watched with pride as the projects from our inaugural round of funding in 2017 have flourished.

"We look forward to following this year’s recipients with interest as their projects develop through the hard work, dedication and passion of the Olympians involved."

World Olympians Association

Website: www.olympians.org

Twitter: @worldolympians

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WorldOlympiansAssociation

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