“Athletes for Good Fund” opportunity for Para athletes

In partnership with the International Paralympic Committee and International Olympic Committee, this week new Paralympic Worldwide Partner Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has launched an initiative designed to support causes that athletes feel strongly about, and it is particularly relevant to the COVID environment that athletes have found themselves in this year.

Called the Athletes for Good Fund, this new initiative is going to award 52 grants worth USD 10,000 each to support charitable organisation that Paralympic and Olympic athletes are passionate about and have been involved with in 2020.

The grants are available to athletes who have already qualified, or are attempting to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games or Olympic Games. Athletes can submit application through the IOC’s Athlete365 sire between 16 and 30 September – there is a link below.

What is the Athletes for Good Fund?

The Athletes for Good Fund is a joint initiative with P&G, the IPC and the IOC that will issue grants directly to the causes supported by Paralympic and Olympic athletes who are advancing important work in the areas of equality and inclusion, environmental sustainability and community impact.

The Athletes for Good Fund will award 52 grants, each for the sum of USD 10,000, over the next year – representing one grant for every week between the one-year-to-go milestone and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2021. The grant money will go directly to the charity of choice for each athlete and help facilitate the incredible work they are doing together.

Why has the Athletes for Good Fund been established?

This has been an unprecedented year, with people across the globe confronting very real challenges as well as the deferment of dreams, big and small. The response P&G have seen from athletes around the world – from promoting causes to help with food distribution and fundraising for COVID-19 relief, to working with organisations on anti-racism education – has shown them what it means to lead with love in trying times.

Building upon the success of the last 10 years of partnership and the values shared by P&G and the IOC to improve life and create a better world, on 22 July they announced a first-of-its-kind, citizen-driven partnership to advance important work in key areas – equality and inclusion, environmental sustainability and community impact – through to 2028. The Athletes for Good Fund was created as the first commitment to this partnership. Now that the IPC is also involved in the partnership, Paralympic athletes also qualify.

How can athletes apply?

If you are a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic or Olympic Games athlete or hopeful who has carried out charitable work in the past year to help build and serve your community, P&G invite you to apply for a grant on behalf of that organisation.

Athletes can submit an application on Athlete365 between 17 and 30 September at this link https://www.olympic.org/athlete365/athletes-for-good-fund-pg

Athlete stories highlighted in The Measure of Greatness

To shine a light on Paralympic and Olympic athletes and hopefuls, P&G has also debuted The Measure of Greatness, which tells the uplifting stories of four inspirational athletes who have used this moment to serve others. To see more about them you can view the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZciNNbgXSIA&t=52s

From fighting on the front lines in the medical field against the COVID-19 pandemic, to promoting racial equality, to using resources to direct medical equipment and food to those most in need, these athletes epitomise how people can lead with love during challenging times and are the first recipients of the P&G Athletes for Good Fund.

Kim Daybell (Great Britain, Para table tennis): Daybell was due to start training full-time to prepare for Tokyo 2020, but instead returned to work full-time as a medical SHO (senior house officer) managing COVID-19 patients in a London hospital. He has been working 40-60 hours each week in the hospital, while still staying mentally and physically fit for his continued journey on the road to Tokyo 2020.

Simone Manuel (USA, swimming): As the first Black woman to win an individual medal in Olympic swimming, Manuel is an outspoken advocate for challenging racial stereotypes in her sport and has consistently used her platform to educate followers on how to be actively anti-racist, amplify Black voices and encourage all people to dream big. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Manuel has also used her platform to support organisations that connect the food insecure with much-needed meals.

Momota Kento (Japan, badminton): Kento donated 10 per cent of prize money from his 2019 tournament winnings (USD 50,000) to the Tokyo Medical Association in support of COVID-19 relief efforts, and helped in the donation of 200,000 masks to students and medical staff in Japan. He has also dedicated time to mentoring youth badminton players, offering encouragement and motivation as they navigate this time away from competition.

Pamphinette Buisa (Canada, rugby): Buisa co-organised a peace rally for Black lives in Victoria (Canada) and is a prominent voice in the Canadian sporting community, encouraging others to engage in anti-racist work and equitable reconciliation. Additionally, Buisa has joined forces with several women in her community to establish and fundraise for a COVID-19 relief fund for people in need on Vancouver Island.