The Sport for Hope Programme was initiated in 2007 in order to promote sport, education and social development in developing countries.
The programme involves the construction of multi-functional sports centres in developing countries in order to provide elite athletes with state-of-the-art training facilities, and young people and local communities with positive sport and lifestyle opportunities. It also promotes the principles and values of Olympism.
Ultimately, the objective is that the local communities take "ownership" of the Centre and adopt it as their centre for social and cultural development.
Opened in 2010, the state-of-the-art Zambia Olympic Youth Development Centre was the first multi-sports facility built in developing countries as part of the programme.
In 2010, straight after the terrible earthquake which hit Haiti, the Olympic Movement committed itself to providing aid to rebuild Haiti’s sporting infrastructure as part of the nation’s reconstruction process. It has honoured its commitment, as this project for a centre in Haiti, which combines sport, education and health, is contributing to the rebuilding of local communities, promotes social values and gives Haiti’s citizens a glimpse of a better future after the earthquake of 12 January 2010.
Key dates:
2007: Launch of the Sport for Hope Programme
10 May 2010: Inauguration of the 1st Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka, Zambia
25 February 2012: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and IOC President Jacques Rogge visit the Centre in Lusaka, Zambia
1 June 2012: IF Sport for Hope Development Seminar in Lausanne
24 September 2012: HRH Princess Anne visits the Centre in Lusaka, Zambia
14 December 2012: Beginning of the construction of the 2nd Sport for Hope Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
15 July 2014: Inauguration of the Sport for Hope Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
OLYMPIC CHARTER
"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair-play."