04 June 2025 – As the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World kicked off in Lausanne, Switzerland, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach urged participants from all around the world to come together in a common mission of celebration, collaboration and action towards building a better world through sport.
Welcoming over 300 attendees, and with many more joining online, President Bach commended their participation and commitment, and outlined the aim of the event: “Your presence here today demonstrates the growing momentum behind our shared mission: to put sport at the service of society.
“The purpose of this Olympism365 Summit is not only to reflect on how far we have come, but, more importantly, to chart the course for the future. What we have built together over the past years is only the beginning. Now is the time to take these efforts — and the goals of the Olympic Agenda — to new heights.”
“This power of sport is no longer confined to abstract theory… today it is accepted as a tool that can change people’s lives in tangible ways.”
– IOC President Thomas Bach at the #Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, in Lausanne, Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/Dbe3QiW9xl— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 4, 2025
President Bach underscored the multifaceted role of sport and the collective effort needed to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): “The IOC is fully committed to strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler of the UN SDGs,” he said. “We are doing so together with all of you. Together with our many partners from the UN family, from development institutions and from civil society, we are addressing 11 of the SDGs at the same time: peace, health, social inclusion, gender equality, sustainability and more.”
A strategy to use sport to advance the UN SDGs
Born from this spirit of openness and collaboration, the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy has grown into a truly global effort, with over 550 initiatives currently being delivered across 175 countries by the IOC, National Olympic Committees and a range of implementing partners.
Olympism365 is not just a concept. It is a living, evolving initiative that is already making a difference on the ground. Whether through youth development, gender equality or peacebuilding and many more initiatives, Olympism365 is improving lives in real and meaningful ways across communities worldwide. This would not be possible without the commitment of our partners. Together, we are not just recognising the power of sport — we are realising it. Thomas Bach – IOC President
President Bach also highlighted the importance of safeguarding in sport, a topic that is high on the Summit agenda:
“To make a real and lasting impact, our efforts must not only expand access to sport, but also ensure that sport is safe. Sport must be free from abuse and exploitation. Only then can it truly be a force for good. This is why the IOC has made safeguarding a core priority, developing and investing in innovative safeguarding measures around the world. For this reason, safe sport is also a central theme of this summit, as we work together to strengthen these efforts across the Olympic Movement,” Bach added.
Looking ahead, President Bach emphasised the importance of charting the course for the future, taking the efforts and goals of the Olympic Agenda to new heights. Introducing the IOC President-elect, Kirsty Coventry, he expressed his confidence in her leadership and commitment to the mission of Olympism365.
“In her, you will find a true partner in this mission who not only shares our values and vision – she has lived them,” he said. “She is living proof of what sport can achieve – for individuals and for society.”
Building a Better World Through Sport – Together: addressing global challenges with local solutions
Following President Bach’s address, the morning plenary session, on the theme of “Building a Better World Through Sport – Together”, saw a number of prominent speakers take the floor, highlighting the many dimensions through which sport can advance sustainable development.
Addressing the audience were Robert Golob, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia; Laura Chinchilla, IOC Member and 46th President of Costa Rica; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport; and Rémy Rioux, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD).
The recording of the Plenary Session can be found here.
Olympism365 Summit
The Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World is bringing together from 3 to 5 June a diverse coalition of leaders from the Olympic Movement, UN agencies, development and financing institutions, civil society, for-purpose businesses, safe sport community and IOC Young Leaders. Building on the Sport for Sustainable Development Summit, held in the French capital on the eve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the event marks a pivotal moment in furthering the role of sport to address global challenges and advance the UN SDGs.
All the plenary sessions on 4 and 5 June are being livestreamed. More information can be found on ioc.org.
