Assisting athletes with their impact entrepreneurship projects

Social entrepreneurship provides an appropriate response to the challenges facing African countries: by offering innovative solutions to unresolved societal issues, it contributes to building a social and solidarity economy. Through their power to inspire and mobilize, high-level athletes can play a crucial role in promoting impact entrepreneurship. Indeed, during or after the end of their careers, many high-level athletes are keen to develop social and/or environmental impact initiatives (such as enterprises, associations and foundations), but do not have the right support to make their ideas happen.

The partnership between AFD and Paris 2024 is based on a common ambition: use the energy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the benefit of all by aligning the event with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The incubation program aims to select three classes of athletes-entrepreneurs who benefit from technical assistance for the realization of their entrepreneurial project. 

The projects selected address societal issues, such as integration (for example, for people with disabilities and young people from deprived backgrounds), gender equality, health, education, and the protection of the environment.

This program has two objectives:

• Use the skills, values and commitment of athletes to serve sustainable high-impact projects 
• Facilitate the retraining of athletes, and ensure they have a successful and long-term future career

The project is supporting 83 athletes, including 48 with project initiatives in Africa financed by AFD and 35 project initiators in France and the French overseas territories financed by Paris 2024.  

• Strengthening of the entrepreneurial skills and retraining opportunities of athletes;
• Support for the development of a Sport & Development ecosystem in Africa;
• Promotion of impact entrepreneurship in Africa.