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The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) collaborated with the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Career Program (IOCACP) to field the first Athlete Career Programme for Ghanaian sportswomen/men on 23rd November, 2016. The program sought to provide resources and training to athletes, to enable them develop their life skills and maximise their education and employment opportunities.

Other collaborators in the program included the ANOCA Athletes Committee, the World Olympians Association (WOA), the Adecco Group and Ghana Olympians Association (GOA).

A member of the GOA Chris Essilfie, who was a co-course instructor at the one day event, lectured participants about how they can prepare for job interviews and secure employment opportunities.

Alongside Olympian and IOC ACP Outreach Facilitator, Ms. Kadidiatou Kanouté Tounkara, the two experienced instructors took about 50 sportsmen/women and coaches drawn from 16 sports disciplines through various activities including behavioral discovery, game plan, networking activity, CV writing, interviewing and social media.

At the closing ceremony of the programme, the GOC Secretary General Richard Akpokavie praised the objectives of the IOCACP and noted that the Ghana Olympians Association will organise similar workshops for sportsmen/women as part of its plans of helping athletes manage their careers.

To support Olympians achieve success for life, the IOC Athletes’ Commission, the International Olympic Committee and the Adecco Group launched the IOC Athlete Career Programme (IOC ACP), which supports athletes while they prepare for and go through their career transition.

 

A course participant and swimmer Laila Zangwio shared her experience from the one day event.

“We learned so much today especially being a sports person and being able to blend your education and your career,” she said.

“It really taught as a lot. Personally, it was something really difficult for me because I’m a student of the University of Ghana Legon and a swimmer as well. But today I have been able to learn how to combine my education, my sports life and my career which I’m working towards.

“We learnt so many things like writing your CV, preparing for interviews and so many things that have enlightened us as sportsmen and women which I think others should also benefit from next time.

In alignment with the Olympic Agenda 2020 which give a clear vision on our effort to support and protect clean athletes, the IOC Athlete Career Programme in Cooperation with Adecco Group provides resources and training to athletes enabling them to develop their life skills and maximise their education and employment opportunities.

 

The IOC ACP Outreach workshop brings in-person sessions delivered with a very interactive and hands-on approach to assist athletes to achieve success both on and off the pitch.  It is designed to support them at different stages of their sports career from young to retired.