Beyond Sport

The Beyond Sport Summit is a unique event designed to celebrate, promote and drive forward sport-led social change. The Summit collides those who use sport as a vehicle to create social impact, with influencers from the world of business, government and federations whose attitudes and decisions can have substantial impact.

The inaugural Summit in 2009 prompted heavy praise from its participants:

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

"I’ve witnessed first-hand the power sport can have in creating social change in communities and to see so many people in one room talking about they can use this power for good was a humbling moment. Beyond Sport can achieve great things and I am fully behind the organisation and its hopes for the future."

Thierry Borra, Director of Olympic Games Management, The Coca-Cola Company

"Beyond Sport is a brilliant organisation and I have no doubt that this was just a kick off of a large movement to make the world a better place."

Dikembe Mutombo, Former NBA Player and Founder, Dikembe Mutomobo Foundation

"Meeting all the inspirational people behind the sport and development projects shortlisted for the Beyond Sport Awards was a truly memorable experience. If we can get more people to follow the lead of these initiatives that we saw first-hand at the Summit then we can create real social impact across the world."

Christophe Dubi, Sports Director, International Olympic Committee

"The Beyond Sport vision immediately spoke to me, but I felt at the same time that it was extremely ambitious. Often strategies do not materialize from a great vision. In Beyond Sport’s case, it happened and in grand fashion."

Buoyed by this success, the Beyond Sport Summit has a fresh set of aims for 2010:

• Provide a platform for Global Awareness of sport's ability to trigger change
• Reward, celebrate and highlight Best Practice Models
• Encourage Policy-Change
• Enable multi-sector Connections, Partnerships and Networking
• Engage the Public and Sporting Consumer
• Leave a sport-and-development legacy for Chicago through awareness and education

The Summit will be attended by representatives from the following groups of people:

• Shortlisted projects for the Beyond Sport Awards.
• Specially selected corporate CEOs and decision-makers.
• Political leaders
• Leaders from international aid, peace and development organisations.
• Entrepreneurs and key influencers.
• Funds and Foundations.
• International Federations and Governing Bodies.

The Beyond Sport Summit 2010 will take place in Chicago on September 27 to 30 and will comprise of a range of facilitated events specifically designed to deliver against our objectives.

The Summit will also include the announcement of the Beyond Sport Awards winners on September 30, celebrating the world’s best sport-led social innovation projects.