26 selected athletes for the Paris 2024 / AFD incubation programme

The chosen projects respond to certain societal issues, such as inclusion and integration (in particular for disabled people and people from underprivileged backgrounds), gender equality, health, education and environmental protection.

This 8-month programme starting in February 2021 aims to support athlete-entrepreneurs to nurture and grow their high-impact social and environmental project.
It provides them with a method and tools to build their project from start to finish – from defining the problem they are looking to solve through to prototyping a socially and financially effective solution.
It combines individual and collective supports notably through bootcamps, collective idea workshops, mentoring sessions and meetings with inspiring personalities.

4 Sport Impact Leaders engaged with Sport en Commun (click here for more information) are part of the 26 laureates:

• Aby GAYE: project related to the organisation of basketball camps in Senegal with a focus on self-confidence, self-esteem and depigmentation of the skin. To learn more about the project in its pre-incubation phase, click here.
• Youssouf MULUMBU: project related to the deployment of local sports infrastructure in DRC combined with specific actions dedicated to local youth. To learn more about the project in its pre-incubation phase, click here.
• Isabelle YACOUBOU: project related to the launch of a multisport venue in Benin, offering advice and support to both amateur and elite athletes; also equipped with a “green bar” offering drinks and dietetic dishes.
• Olivier DIOMANDE: project related to the creation of the “oval table” in Ivory Coast, a network of companies aiming to promote the development of the rugby industry in the country through entrepreneurship.

Get access to the detailed list of the 26 selected ahtlete-entrepreneurs at the bottom of the joint press release from Paris 2024 and the Agence Française de Développement by clicking here