Olympic Solidarity and
NOC Services Annual Report

Game on: igniting the next Olympiad

2025 was a year of innovation, many firsts and continuity. Continuity in the sense that innovation can flourish only when built on strong foundations capable of sustaining change. This was particularly evident as 2025 marked the first year of a new Olympic quad and the launch of the 2025–2028 Olympic Solidarity Plan, supported by a record budget of USD 650 million—a 10 per cent increase compared to the previous cycle—with most of the additional resources dedicated to continued support for athletes. 

The year was also marked by significant milestones for the Olympic Movement, notably the election of IOC President Kirsty Coventry. As the first woman to lead the organisation, a double Olympic champion in swimming from Africa, and a former Olympic scholarship holder and Olympic Solidarity Commission member, her appointment sent a powerful and inspiring signal to athletes around the world. 

At the same time, more than one third of NOCs held elections, resulting in significant leadership renewal, with 38 new NOC presidents elected and 43 secretaries general either elected or appointed. We warmly thank those stepping down for their strong collaboration and outstanding contribution to the Olympic Movement, both within their territories and beyond. We look forward to working with the new leadership teams and to continuing our shared efforts to strengthen the Olympic Movement worldwide. 

In 2025, we began implementing the new Olympic Solidarity Plan, approving project applications from NOCs and launching enhanced support programmes for athletes. These included new Athlete Career Transition opportunities, notably the Athlete Career Transition Course in Sport Ethics and Integrity (ACTSI), an academic programme for athletes interested in ethics and governance who do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree. Throughout the year, we were inspired by the enthusiasm, ambition and creativity shown by athletes and NOCs as they initiated projects with the potential to deliver positive and lasting impact for individuals, teams and entire communities. 

Dialogue and collaboration were further strengthened with Continental Associations and through the new format of the Olympic Solidarity Forums, enabling greater exchange both among NOCs and with Olympic Solidarity. In addition, 2025 saw two other major innovations: the launch of the Olympism365 Summit, which brought together more than 100 organisations from across the Olympic Movement, United Nations agencies, development and financing institutions and civil society to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through sport; and the introduction of an AI assistant specifically designed to support NOCnet users, the first deliverable for NOCs from the Olympic AI Agenda launched by the IOC in 2024. 

In line with the priorities set at the start of the quad, 2025 also saw expanded investment in youth programmes delivered with International Federations, with a particular focus on Africa ahead of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Increased support for refugee athletes was another key priority, laying the groundwork for a historic milestone in 2026: the first‑ever Refugee Olympic Team at a Youth Olympic Games. 

Talking about Dakar 2026, we also celebrated a further milestone with the launch of the Dakar Learning Academy which, in addition to its goal of recruiting and training young Senegalese professionals in Games delivery, saw the selection of the first cohort of sports administrators put forward by African NOCs who will join the Academy in early 2026. 

Throughout this report, you will discover how these achievements and commitments have taken shape on the ground, through the stories of NOCs, athletes and partners turning strategic ambition into meaningful change. 

As this quadrennial cycle progresses, new challenges and opportunities will emerge. We are confident that a shared spirit of openness, trust in innovation and collective experience will enable us to meet them. 

Together, we remain committed to empowering athletes, inspiring young people and strengthening communities worldwide through sport. 

Thank you, and happy reading!

NOC Stories 2025

Every year, NOCs, together with Olympic Solidarity and NOC Services, carry out impactful activities which illustrate how participation in sport can foster positive change for individuals and communities, promoting peaceful living together and social cohesion. Click on the stories below to learn more.