OCLP – ISG and PKOl Support Olympic Athletes in Dual Career Paths

Promoting responsible governance and supporting dual career pathways for professional athletes are the two core goals of the Olympic Committees Leadership Programme (OCLP) — a pilot initiative launched in January 2024 under the leadership of the Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl). After six months of intensive educational activities, the programme has now entered its key phase: mentoring. In this stage, experienced leaders — including professionals from outside the sports sector — will work with participants on concrete social and sports development projects. Among the mentors is PhD Grzegorz Botwina, President of the Institute for Sport Governance (ISG).

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Responsible Leadership in Sport – From Theory to Practice

Like all areas of public life, modern sport requires conscious, ethical and innovative leadership. It needs people who understand not only the demands of athletic competition but also the complexities of governance, public policy, education, and social inclusion.

For many athletes, transitioning into a new professional life after retirement is neither obvious nor easy. It often involves psychological challenges and a lack of clear direction. Many seek personal development tools that will allow them to explore their intellectual potential and help them plan the next steps in their career — often within sport, but in new roles.

“I think the biggest challenge after ending a professional sports career is that you suddenly feel alone – like a child who just graduated high school, only that your graduation was over a decade ago. You don’t really know what to do next. I was at a point in my life where I was looking for ways to grow – to show that I have not only physical potential, but also intellectual strength,” says Anna Kiełbasińska, one of Poland’s most accomplished track and field athletes and a participant in the OCLP programme.

Unrealised potential of former elite athletes represents a tangible loss for sport institutions. OCLP was created in response — to develop sport leaders out of former athletes and integrate their experience into the administrative and leadership structures of the sector.

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OCLP – An Innovative Approach to Leadership Development

OCLP is an innovative, international initiative that brings together the Olympic Committees of Poland, Greece, Croatia, and Ukraine, with funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ Sport programme. The project promotes gender equality, intersectoral cooperation, and responsible governance in sport organisations.

“OCLP addresses real needs — both of athletes finishing their careers and of professionals already working in national federations. Supporting dual career development is the key to building conscious leadership in and beyond sport. As both an Olympian and project coordinator, I see great value in creating space for wise growth beyond athletic performance,” says Luiza Złotkowska, OCLP coordinator at PKOl.

The programme includes 20 Olympic athletes – 10 women and 10 men – representing Olympic sports in the four partner countries. Polish participants include:

• Anna Kiełbasińska – Olympic silver medallist, World and European medallist in athletics;
• Marta Pihan-Kulesza – 12-time Polish champion in gymnastics, multiple World Cup medallist;
• Wojciech Makowski – Paralympic silver medallist, World and European swimming champion;
• Damian Dębiński – American football leader and development manager of Polish Flag Football.

To ensure quality research and educational support, two expert teams are involved: one focusing on sports governance, the other on innovation.

The programme not only builds leadership skills, but also encourages athletes to design and implement projects that bring positive change to sport at the local and international level.

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Institute for Sport Governance – Leading the Knowledge and Research Component

Institute for Sport Governance (ISG) has joined the OCLP as a key partner, leading the programme’s research and educational efforts. ISG supports the mentoring component, shares good practices, and helps build a platform for knowledge exchange between athletes and Olympic Committees in Central and Eastern Europe.

The organisation is responsible for creating tools that support leadership development in sport, including:

• a practical handbook on leadership in sport organisations,
• and final reports on sport-specific mentoring, to be delivered at the end of the programme.

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Mentoring – The Core of the Programme

Following six months of training and integration, the most important stage of the OCLP begins: individual mentoring. Over the next four months, 20 participants will work closely with experienced leaders — many from outside the sports sector — to design and present their impact projects.

Among the mentors is PhD Grzegorz Botwina, President of ISG, a long-time expert in sports governance, education, and public policy. His knowledge and passion for ethical reform bring strong academic and practical expertise to the programme.

“ISG’s participation in OCLP is a natural extension of our mission: to professionalise sports management, promote social responsibility, and shape future leaders. We believe that responsible leadership is the foundation for long-term, positive change in sport,” says PhD Grzegorz Botwina.

One of the mentees is Anna Kiełbasińska, Olympic medallist and social ambassador for Olympic values:

“Programmes like this are vital – they help athletes who are finishing their careers rediscover themselves and build a path beyond sport, without losing their identity.”

Their collaboration promises to be a powerful combination of practice, vision, and commitment to reshaping leadership in sport.

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What’s Next in OCLP?

Until autumn 2025, participants and mentors will work on concrete projects within the sport sector. The programme will culminate in a final conference, where results and proposals for further leadership development will be presented to the Olympic community.

By December 2025, OCLP will deliver:

• research reports on mentoring in sport,
• and a leadership integration handbook for athletes transitioning to governance roles.