On Tuesday 22 March 2022, Dakar was the stage for the first edition of the Sport Impact Awards. More than 200 people attended this moment of sharing and highlighting initiatives that promote the use of sport as a vehicle for development.

The Sport Impact Awards brought together key personalities from the Senegalese sport and development ecosystem, but also from the whole continent, notably from Rwanda represented by the Ambassador of Rwanda to Senegal, Kenya, Morocco, Benin, Burkina Faso and South Africa. The Sport Impact Leaders attended alongside Sport en Commun to celebrate this first edition, which will be followed by others.

The ceremony promoted and rewarded the commitment of a selection of actors through the awarding of 10 trophies:

  • The trophy for public action of the year awarded to the Republic of Benin for its strategy for the development of sport in Benin combining incentive regulations, construction of infrastructures and professionalisation of the sector. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best Sport & Gender initiative awarded to LYSD for its women’s basketball league project combining cultural activities, with the aim of promoting gender equality and women’s emancipation. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the sports infrastructure of the year awarded to the Kigali Arena, a multi-purpose hall that can host sports events, concerts, conferences or exhibitions. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best Sport & Inclusion initiative awarded to Special Olympics Africa for its actions enabling access to sport and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best Sport & Innovation initiative awarded to Peace & Sport for its mobile application that offers peace through sport training sessions to educators. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best Sport & Health initiative awarded to Boxgirls Kenya for its project to distribute sanitary towels in schools to improve the physical and mental health of young girls. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best Sport & Education initiative awarded to TIBU Africa and Terres en Mêlées for the Alafia programme, which uses rugby as a powerful lever for education and mobilisation of young people. Find out more about it here!
  • The trophy for the best sports competition of the year awarded to the Basketball Africa League for the first edition of the pan-African basketball league launched by the NBA and FIBA. Find out more about it here!
  • The Sport Impact Leaders of the Year trophy awarded to basketball international player Aby Gaye’s Terang’Aby, which helps young women gain confidence and self-esteem through basketball. Find out more about it here!
  • The Special Jury Prize trophy awarded to Speak Up Africa for its campaign against neglected tropical diseases. Find out more about it here!

See you in 2023 for the next edition!

 

Find out more about all the laureates’ actions in the Resources section of the website!