Paulo González’s Post

Sports as part of youth empowerment. Last Week, Minister of Youth and Sports, Rui Falcão, welcomed a high-level delegation from Mitrelli's Urbanization Sector, led by its Director General Henrique Costa . The meeting focused on advancing several key sports infrastructure projects, including the Bengo Paralympic Sports Complex, the 10,000-seat Huambo Stadium, and Uíge Stadium—each designed to significantly elevate the sports development across Angola. At Mitrelli, we believe that sports are more than just games—they are a powerful platform for social growth and youth empowerment. These projects are designed to transform the landscape of Angolan sports, providing state-of-the-art facilities, including Olympic-sized swimming pools, multi-sports courts, and high-performance training centers. With residential accommodations for up to 250 athletes, we are creating environments that enable athletes to live, train, and excel in settings built for excellence. A cornerstone of these efforts is the Bengo Paralympic Sports Complex (José Sayovo Armando), named after Angola’s most decorated Paralympian, José Sayovo. This complex will play a vital role in supporting the national Paralympic teams, promoting inclusivity and excellence in sports preparation for athletes of all abilities. These initiatives are part of a broader, collaborative effort led by President João Lourenço, reflecting a strategic commitment to using sports as a vehicle for empowerment, inclusivity, and social transformation for Angola’s youth. 📺 For more details, catch the full coverage of this meeting on #TPA1 (Angola National Television). #Mitrelli #Angola #YouthEmpowerment #SportsDevelopment #SocialImpact #ParalympicSports #Inclusion #Bengo #Uige #Huambo #Innovation

In these days I was looking for projects that help the comunity through sports. Which in my opinion is a great way to do so, because in sports everyone and anyone can do it (Or at least it should be that way)! With sports can help people in a lot of different ways, chaging the planet and the world into a better shape. Through sport we can give more quality education, help the world to end proverty, Reduce Inequalities and give good health and well-being for all! (See more of the sdgs of the UN: https://sdgs.un.org/goals) The two projects that I found were: HelpAfricaSwim - https://lnkd.in/d2btRuWc RIFA - ‘Rooklyn International Football Association’, - https://lnkd.in/dPM9D_AN The first one is a project related to help people in African countries in which people teach anyone who wants how to swim, in order to combat the lack of people who know how to swim. The second one is a soccer team that seeks to integrate immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers into the community of New York through soccer. These two projects really have inspired me to do more, two go to my community, search for their needs and understand what can I do to help them through sports. International Olympic Committee – IOC @IOCYoungLeaders #LearningSprintIOCYL

This article is way overdue. Than you COC and CPC for it. Canada has a strong sporting heritage domestically and internationally. For years it has been a country that has been admired for the depth of talent it has produced. But the sport system is on its knees. There is a present (not looming) financial crisis from which there will be, and have been, corners cut, shortcuts, and unacceptable operational risks taken by those that work in sport. This is a recipe for unsafe practices and a leading indicator for serious incidents and accidents. If this government cannot see that, and is willing to put lives and livelihoods at risk, then we desperately need a change in government and a wholesale change to the sport funding and operating model. The sport system is literally at breaking point. But the system also has to hold the’mirror’ up and have a fundamental overhaul. There’s far too many organizations, administrators and overhead. 61 NSOs, and however many MSOs and PSOs to serve how many athletes? That’s far too many silos, waste, and bureaucracy. The system is archaic. The model needs to change for the future of sport. Under the current structure operators are having to do far more with far far less. The waste has been taken out of the NSOs as they are currently structured, yet the delivery expectations remain. Canada needs your help. The athletes of today and tomorrow need your help. Now is the time to lobby the government to, not only, increase funding to the 2024 index linked levels, but also and in parallel, conduct a restructure of the system, reducing the silos, reducing administrative overhead, bringing in automation and getting rid of the old set up. When I ask for the plan moving forward, there’s silence. Sport Canada doesn’t have a plan nor do the administrators. But it’s not for the administrators to come up with the plan. Sport Canada needs to devise the plan quickly, for not doing so is tantamount to a neglect of duty. Let’s see if this government or the next has the fortitude to lead the changes that are necessary to make the system sustainable for the future. If they don’t, and as president of one NSO, (in my own views) I fear for the safety of those in the sport system and for the legacy of sport in Canada. #safesport #canada #sportcanada David Shoemaker

Amor'Sport joins the rest of the world in observing the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Sport has proven to be highly effective in promoting peace and development objectives. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sport’s role for social progress is further acknowledged: "Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives." #amorsportzw #UN #InternationalDayOfSportForDevelopmentAndPeace

Nigeria has four years to prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but it seems we’re not serious about investing in sports. If we were, finding and training athletes wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, we let our talents go to waste. It’s sad to see that almost all the Nigerian athletes at the Paris Olympics don’t even train in Nigeria— their coaches are abroad, but they still choose to represent Nigeria. Meanwhile, many Nigerians are choosing to represent other countries. For example, the Jamaican who came third in the 110 hurdles is actually a Nigerian competing for Jamaica. When I see these athletes representing other countries, I can’t help but think about how many medals Nigeria could have won if we had supported them. Every school in Nigeria holds inter-house sports, which is a great chance to spot young talent. If we pick them early and train them, we could develop top athletes. This is something the USA does well, they start grooming their athletes from a young age through various inter-school and inter-state competitions. Sports in Nigeria is a big issue that the Federal Government doesn’t seem ready to talk about. Instead of facing the constant embarrassment at the Olympics, maybe Nigeria should just stop participating until we’re ready to take sports seriously. Regardless Kudos to the Athletes who represented Team Nigeria in Paris!! #Olympics #Paris2024 #TeamNigeria #ParisOlympics2024 #Trending #Hashtags #Olympics2024 #Sports #Nigeria #Makingofchampions #Athletics #Track&field

Week two of the #LearningSprintIOCYL is over, and it's time to accomplish the weekly task. Today I would like to share the experience of Tomás Seré, an IOC Young Leader from Argentina, who with his project En JueGO, has sought to use sport as a tool for inclusion and development for people of different ages who, for different reasons, have faced situations of marginalization. One of the main links that Tomás has formed has been with different transit homes in Argentina, to be able to take the sports workshops to the target population, which is divided into two age groups, one from 6 to 14 years old and the other from 15 to 30 years old, and also with different neighborhood clubs to be able to use the facilities in order to develop the program. Working with key partners seems to me relevant in Tomás' experience, both to reach the people we are trying to help, and also to facilitate the implementation process; large projects like this one are difficult to carry out without strong institutional cooperation. @IOCYoungLeaders

It is these type of articles that inspire us to forge a path forward and create an INDEPENDENT and TRANSPARENT way to fund the athletic talent that exists on our continent! 🏆 We cannot hope to compete and “win medals” if we do not fund our athletes to participate in international competition. 🎯 We also cannot hope to fix the problem of funding by merely raising awareness of this fact and publishing stories about it. 💥 It’s time for ACTION sports fans, brands and investors! 🥇 WE HAVE THE SOLUTION! Having funded over 26 road cyclists from 6 African nations in Africas top continental team from 2019 -2022, we know only too well that the toughest challenge facing our athletes is that of funding and opportunity. The Podium Pursuit Collective - ProTouch™️ Africa is assembling an ecosystem of over 4 000 top performing athletes - from 54 nations, across 36 sporting codes - their 30-million fans globally and a range of purpose-led brands that are as passionate as we are to ignite the WORLD’s first fan-owned IMPACT INVESTMENT FUND for athletes from AFRICA. Our fan app - a digital clubhouse where fans, brands and athletes connect - is LIVE IN BETA already and you can download this here: https://lnkd.in/d7n54HNB 💥 We are currently covering Tour du Rwanda 🇷🇼 Africa’s toughest tour! 🌍 Our next stop is African Games 🇬🇭 If you are an investor or a brand who wants get behind our top talent, get in touch! #podiumpursuit #africanathletes #impactinvesting

🥅 Get the Canadian Women's Para Ice Hockey Team to 2024 Worlds in Norway! From October 25-28, World Para Ice Hockey is hosting a Women’s World Challenge in Norway that is a step on the way to getting the women’s game in the Paralympics in 2030. Women's Para Hockey of Canada | Parahockey féminin du Canada are not funded underneath Sport Canada for the High Performance program. The majority of grants we can apply for are to go to grassroots development (which we love to do!) but unfortunately means all of our High Performance Team Canada athletes are left paying out of their own pocket to represent Canada and build the sport. We’ve been able to gain support from amazing sponsors like Canadian Tire Corporation & Bauer Hockey, but the price tag of travelling to represent Canada at Worlds is extremely large. This is where we asking you to come in! We want our women to know, that just like the Olympians and #Paralympians we have been watching on TV, we also believe in them and the dreams they have of representing our country. This tournament is the first step to getting us there and we want our women to know that they have an army of supporters (YOU!) believing in them! 💸 DONATE TODAY (via CanadaHelps): https://lnkd.in/gBkAUmaZ ------------ 📸 My custom-designed #hockey card: Raphaëlle Tousignant - 1993-94 Donruss Elite Series Style [Disclaimer: This is not a real card. The purpose of this digital card is to shine a light on how little variety there is in women's hockey cards compared to men's and a complete lack of representation of athletes with disabilities in the sports card market. This digital card is not for sale.] #paralympics #paralympicgames #womeninsport #womeninsports #womenshockey #hockeycanada #usahockey #sports #sportsmarketing #hockeyisforeveryone #nhl #disability #disabilities

It’s with great pride that I announce three major athlete funding initiatives: 1 - Aspiring Australian Olympic Athlete Fund, in addition to the AOC’s Medal Incentive Funding (MIF) The existing MIF remains, but will also allow donors to contribute additional funds to medal winning athletes including team sports. The second fund is new. The ‘Aspiring Australian Olympic Athlete Fund’ will be structured to allow donations to individual athletes, focussed on providing support to those aspiring to attend an Olympics, or those who qualify to attend a Games. 2 - Indigenous Athlete Support Grant scheme Furthering the AOC’s objective to provide practical support to Indigenous Australians, the Indigenous Athlete Support Grant scheme has been developed for the Paris Olympic Games to support Indigenous athletes selected in the Australian Olympic Team. Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to eligible athletes to assist their Olympic journeys to Paris 2024 to athletes who meet the criteria approved by the AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee. 3 Australian Olympic Indigenous Athlete Fund The Australian Olympic Indigenous Athlete Fund is being created, designed to generate between $500,000 to $1 million per year to enhance opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes in high-performance Olympic sports. This will simultaneously promote increased representation of First Nations athletes at Olympic Games leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and beyond. The AOC will encourage high net worth individuals seeking a return on investment, to invest through the Fund, thus gaining access to a curated portfolio of Australian and global fund managers. Bring on #Paris2024

🏸 Exploring the Challenges of Minority Sports in South Africa 🇿🇦 As we celebrate the diversity of sports, it's crucial to shed light on the challenges faced by minority sports like badminton in South Africa. Despite its global popularity, badminton encounters unique hurdles within our sporting landscape. 🔍 Limited Funding & Resources: Compared to mainstream sports, badminton often struggles to secure adequate funding and resources for infrastructure, equipment, and development programs. 🏟️ Infrastructure Deficiency: The lack of proper facilities and venues for training and competitions poses a significant obstacle, particularly in underserved communities. 📢 Limited Exposure & Media Coverage: Sparse media coverage and low visibility hinder the growth of badminton, affecting sponsorship opportunities and public awareness. 🤝 Talent Retention & Development: Without robust coaching and development pathways, it's challenging to attract and retain talent, inhibiting the sport's progression at grassroots and elite levels. 🌍 Overcoming Societal Perceptions: Breaking stereotypes and misconceptions about minority sports like badminton is essential to foster inclusivity and encourage participation across all demographics. Addressing these challenges demands collaborative efforts from sports organizations, government bodies, sponsors, and the community to create an environment where all sports, including badminton, can thrive and contribute to South Africa's sporting tapestry. Let's rally together to ensure every athlete has the opportunity to pursue their passion and excel in their chosen sport. #Badminton #SportsDiversity #SouthAfrica 🏸🌟