IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach concludes Uganda visit, departs for Kenya

By Emmanuel Sekago
After engaging with Ugandan athletes, officials, and witnessing various impactful sports initiatives, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Dr. Thomas Bach OLY, departed for Kenya today, Thursday, October 24th, 2024.

His visit to Uganda was part of his ongoing African tour, which focuses on promoting Olympic values and bolstering sports development across the continent.

During his stay, Dr. Bach visited several key sports programs, including the Game Connect Project exhibition, where he gained insight into the initiative’s significant impact on sports and youth empowerment. The project has made remarkable strides in using sports as a tool for positive change in communities, particularly among refugees and host communities. Here’s a breakdown of the achievements highlighted during his visit:

Coach Recruitment and Training; 133 enthusiastic young coaches trained, including 59 from refugee backgrounds and 74 from host communities.

Youth Assessment and Grouping; Targeted youth aged 15-24, both in and out of school, including those with special needs and 802 youth groups formed, categorized by age, activity, and proximity.

Youth Sessions; 18,154 youth participated in bi-weekly sessions, achieving an impressive 87% completion rate.

Financial Literacy and Savings; 1,032 youth received training in financial literacy and 37 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) were formed to encourage saving habits and financial empowerment.

Sports and Peaceful Coexistence; 117 sports clubs established, covering football, netball, volleyball, basketball, and taekwondo, with 1,347 youth actively participating and 114 community events and 3 annual sports tournaments organized, promoting peaceful coexistence through sports.

Leadership Development; In Phase 1, 161 peer leaders were trained, followed by 43 in Phase 2, and Post-graduation support was provided to peer leaders for four months to help mentor and assist other youth.

Advocacy and Scale; Advocacy strategies focused on using sports for mental health (SfMH), promoting well-being and resilience among youth and One Civil Society Organization (CSO) and 15 schools were trained and supported in implementing the SfMH approach.

Dr. Bach’s visit underscored the importance of sports in fostering development, peace, and youth empowerment, and his engagement with the Game Connect Project highlighted the IOC’s commitment to these values.

As he continues his African tour, his next stop in Kenya will build on his efforts to enhance sports infrastructure and Olympic ideals across the continent.