The heritage of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games extends beyond its borders, reaching new horizons in the African continent with the latest decision made. In an act of commitment and vision, the IOC has announced the injection of nearly half a million dollars to finance various social projects with significant impact in Africa, all aimed at using sport as a tool for change and social cohesion.

Based on the success of the Impact 2024 International program, an initiative born out of Paris 2024 and the AFD, the IOC has decided to bet on the continuity and expansion of this legacy. The investment aims to extend the reach of these projects beyond the celebration of the Games, ensuring that the Olympic flame continues to burn in Africa's most vulnerable communities.

Over an 18-month period, the "Sustained Insight and Impact" initiative, launched in March 2024, will nurture and strengthen the selected projects, ensuring that their impact is lasting and profound. The goal is ambitious but clear: to build more inclusive and peaceful societies, where sport is a fundamental pillar in social transformation.

The ten selected projects are not new to this crusade. All of them have been part of the Impact 2024 International program, demonstrating their ability to generate real and meaningful changes in their communities. From South Africa to Uganda, each of them uses sport to address complex issues such as gender inequality, armed violence, social exclusion, and lack of educational opportunities.

One of the standout projects is "Gingando pela Paz" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This initiative uses capoeira, a blend of martial art and Afro-Brazilian dance, to help young people affected by armed violence find a path of peace and personal development. Thanks to the new funding, the organization will be able to train more instructors and expand its reach, reaching more children and young people who have been victims of conflict and gender-based violence.

Another emblematic project is "Broadening Horizons" in South Africa, carried out by The Little Optimist Academy and Trust. This organization uses sailing as a therapeutic tool to integrate marginalised youth who suffer social exclusion due to mental, physical, or socioeconomic issues. The recent grant will allow the program to expand, improving the opportunities for these young people to find a place in society through sport.

The Impact 2024 International program, launched in 2021, has already left a deep mark in Africa, supporting 45 initiatives in 19 countries. However, the IOC, along with Paris 2024 and the AFD, is not content with the achievements made. This new effort aligns with the IOC's Olympism365 strategy, which seeks to promote Olympism and its values throughout the year, not limited to the weeks of competition.

Sport, in this context, becomes a universal language, a tool that transcends borders and differences to unite people in the search for a better future. The IOC's additional investment not only strengthens the reach of these projects but also opens new opportunities for beneficiaries and participants to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other.

With this renewed commitment, the IOC ensures that the legacy of Paris 2024 will not be fleeting. Through continuous funding and support, sport will continue to be a transformative force in Africa, planting seeds of change and hope in communities that more than ever need a boost towards a bright and promising future.