Olympic Solidarity aims at providing assistance to National Olympic Committees (NOCs), particularly those with the greatest needs, so that they can develop their own structures to foster the expansion of sport in their country. The Olympic Solidarity Helpdesk has the goal to provide IFSC Member Federations with information about funding opportunities, and create a system to support them in establishing prolific relationships with their NOCs and promote Sport Climbing within their country or territory.

As part of the IOC, the Olympic Solidarity Commission develops its activities on a quadrennial-plan basis. The development and assistance budget approved by the Olympic Solidary Commission for the 2021-2024 plan amounts to USD 590,000,000, corresponding to the share of the broadcast rights from the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 which belongs to the NOCs.

Olympic Solidarity redistributes these funds through programmes offered to all NOCs recognised by the IOC.

PROGRAMMES FOR ATHLETES

Olympic Scholarships for Athletes at Paris 2024:

The programme is designed to support elite athletes selected and proposed by their respective NOCs in their preparation and qualification for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024. The programme is operational from 1 January 2022 until 31 August 2024. The starting date in 2022 is due to the extension of the scholarships connected to Tokyo 2020. The scholarship grants athletes access to appropriate facilities, in their own country or abroad, as well as suitable technical, medical and scientific support, and reimbursement of travel expenses for Olympic qualifying competitions.

Preparing continental-level athletes and teams:

This programme is designed to optimize athletes’ participation in continental and regional Games with a view to supporting their development and promoting their access to the elite level. The grant may be used to fund training camps or to help athletes participate in competitions considered useful for their training programme.

Athletes' career transition:

This programme offers NOCs assistance to support athletes at various stages of their career through financial and supportive measures in view of a successful post athlete career.

Youth athletes development:

The programme offers NOCs assistance to identify and train young athletes for youth competitions as well as to support athletes to take part in qualification events in view of their selection to participate in the Summer and Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Refugee athletes support:

It offers the NOCs a programme that provides the opportunity to identify and support a limited number of refugee athletes living in their countries to prepare and participate in international competitions.

PROGRAMMES FOR OFFICIALS AND COACHES

Technical Courses for Coaches:

Conducted by an expert appointed by the IF (the course content follows the IFs’ rules) at national or regional level, this programme gives coaches who are active in their country and officially recognized by their National Federation the opportunity to undergo training at a variety of levels. The objective is to offer short term training opportunities at different levels for active coaches officially recognised by their national federation (NF) and working in their own country.

Olympic Scholarships for Coaches:

This programme gives coaches who are officially recognized by their national federation and who are active in their country the opportunity to receive short-term specific training, practical experience, and theoretical knowledge, normally via an intensive residential course at a high-level training centre, university or IF-run establishment. Coaches must be nominated by their National Federation and approved by their National Olympic Committee. Potential candidates should have practical experience as a coach at national / international level. Upon completion of their training, coaches will be encouraged to pass on their knowledge and generally strengthen the position of Skateboarding within their home country.

Development of National Sports System:

This programme is particularly relevant for those NOCs whose coaching structure is weak but has genuine potential for improvement since it gives them the opportunity to strengthen their local and national sports system. In particular, the programme provides funding to NOCs to enable their National Federations to employ an experienced coach for a specific period of time to help them set up or reinforce the whole national structure of a particular sport. At the same time, it allows individuals at national level to acquire sufficient knowledge to pursue such development on a long-term basis. It is important that NOCs, in liaison with their National Federations, develop an action plan to address weaknesses detected in certain areas. IFSC’s role is to offer technical support throughout the project and assist in the selection of a foreign expert, who would then work with the National Federation to establish a coherent and realistic long-term development plan to train local coaches and establish effective elite and grass roots programmes at national level.

For further information, please send an email to IFSC Research & Development Director Silvia Verdolini at development@ifsc-climbing.org.