Athletes at the Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games prepared for real-life and professional challenges, guided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ADECCO.
Supporting Athletes Beyond the Field: The IOC Athlete Career Programme
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched an initiative aimed at supporting athletes throughout their careers and helping them prepare for life after sports competition. Known as the IOC Athlete Career Programme (ACP), this programme offers resources, education, and guidance to athletes on managing their career transitions, developing new skills, and planning for a future beyond their athletic achievements.
At the heart of the programme is a focus on all phases of an athlete’s career, from youth development stages through to post-retirement transitions. Practical tools such as career counseling, education opportunities, financial management advice, and mental health support are provided to ensure athletes are equipped not only for sporting success but also for sustainable personal and professional lives beyond competition.
During events like the Lillehammer Youth Olympics, the support offered by the IOC Athlete Career Programme is exemplified through activities and workshops integrated into the event. These initiatives promote athlete development off the field, with educational sessions related to career planning, identity beyond sport, and skills that empower young athletes to prepare early for their future careers outside of athletics.
The IOC Athlete Career Programme collaborates with a specific group, Adecco, to deliver educational modules. These modules, such as 'Balance Your Act' and 'Act on Your Time', offer counselling on the value of a supportive network and guidance on time management, respectively. Notable figures from the world of sports, including Olympic and World champions, serve as Athlete Role Models, providing guidance and sharing their experiences with young athletes.
The IOC's vision is to contribute to building a better world through sport, and the Athlete Career Programme is a testament to this commitment. Since its global launch in 2005, over 28,000 athletes from more than 185 countries have been involved in both programmes. The IOC ACP and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have been collaborating with a specific group since 2005 and 2007, respectively, to support athletes in their transition to the labour market.
The IOC's official website (http://www.olympic.org/) provides more information about the Athlete Career Programme, and the ACP pages can be found at http://athlete.adecco.com/. The workshops emphasize the role of coaches as 'trainers for life' who focus on building complete persons alongside great athletes. As the third Summer Youth Olympics approach in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018, the IOC Athlete Career Programme and the specific group will continue their cooperation to prepare young champions for life.
Follow the Youth Olympic Games on Twitter at https://twitter.com/youtholympics, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/youtholympicgames, and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/YouthOlympics. The hashtags for the Youth Olympic Games are #iLoveYOG, @lillehammer2016, #mysportmylife, and #IOCACP. The goal is to develop great champions in life, and the IOC Athlete Career Programme is a crucial step towards achieving this aim.
- The IOC Athlete Career Programme (ACP) partners with Adecco to offer education and self-development modules such as 'Balance Your Act' and 'Act on Your Time', providing resources for career development and promoting a sustainable life beyond sports for athletes.
- In addition to sport, the IOC Athlete Career Programme focuses on human resources, ensuring athletes are equipped with skills for life after competition, with workshops on career planning, identity beyond sport, and time management during events like the Lillehammer Youth Olympics.
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