Beijing 2022 Paralympians invited to apply for P&G Athlete for Good grants

Worldwide Paralympic Partner P&G has announced an extension of its successful ‘Athletes for Good’ initiative to Beijing 2022 Paralympic and Olympic athletes and hopefuls who are advancing important work in the areas of equality and inclusion, environmental sustainability and community impact.

Building on the success of the Tokyo 2020 programme launched by P&G that awarded USD 500,000 in grants last year, Beijing 2022 athletes and hopefuls working with charities in the three focus areas can apply for a grant through Athlete365 starting on 1 June until 22 June 2021.

The 16 selected recipients’ charities will receive USD 25,000 to help support the continued good work they are doing within their communities, as well as partner with P&G, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote the causes that are important to them and inspire others to take action.

British Paralympic athletics bronze medallist Olivia Breen, who teamed up with ‘The Leonard Cheshire Organisation’ to challenge discrimination against those with disabilities, was one of the Tokyo 2020 recipients.

“I was so happy to hear that the charity I represent, Leonard Cheshire, was chosen to receive a grant of USD 10,000 as a result of the collaboration between P&G, the IOC and the IPC,” she said. 

“The grant will make a huge difference to the charity. The ethos of Leonard Cheshire really resonates with me as its hashtag is "Actually I Can"! As a disabled person my independence is incredibly important to me and I have enjoyed working with the charity on its various campaigns and always try to encourage the disabled people it helps to recognise the benefits of sport.”

HOW TO APPLY?

The application is currently open on Athlete365. All Paralympic and Olympic athletes and hopefuls for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games are eligible to apply. 

The application calls for examples of the current work with their chosen charity and asks to explain how this grant will impact their organisation. 

The deadline to apply is 22 June 2021.

RECIPIENTS AHEAD OF TOKYO 2020

Applications poured in from around the world telling hundreds of moving stories of athletes who have stepped up to serve their communities through their compassion, humanity, and goodness. A total of 24 Paralympians and Paralympic hopefuls were selected for the Tokyo 2020 programme. 

Among them were Paralympians Tammy Cunnington and Fabio Torres.

Canadian Paralympic swimmer Cunnington has become an athletic ambassador and motivational speaker for ‘Fast and Female’, an organisation striving to encourage girls to participate in sports. She volunteers with Fast and Female by attending their events to work directly with girls and develops accessibility plans to ensure the organisation’s events are inclusive for people with physical differences.

Colombian powerlifter Torres, on the other hand, created the ‘Gestión, Amor y Vida’ Foundation to provide clothes, meals and groceries to low-income families impacted by COVID-19. He continues to fundraise for the organisation through speaking engagements and organising events.

P&G secured marketing rights for the first time to the IPC and Paralympic Games in July 2020, and the grants programme is part of an extended eight-year agreement with the IOC.