YOULEAD — Leading the Game

2026–2028 · ITALY, MONTENEGRO, PORTUGAL, BELGIUM, SWEDEN, SPAIN

Developing pathways for gender-balanced youth leadership in sport governance, so that young people help shape the decisions that shape their sport.

YOULEAD – Leading the Game works on a question many sport organisations now ask but few have answered: how can young people, women and men alike, move from being the subject of sport policy to helping write it?

The project supports sport organisations in opening up their governance: improving transparency, embedding democratic practice and making decision-making more inclusive and gender-balanced. It combines research into current practice, consultation with stakeholders and educational activities for both young people and board members, leading to an online self-evaluation tool, an Inclusive Governance Certification Process and a Leaders Circle that connects young representatives with experienced governance professionals.

Working closely with Panathlon International and the other partners, including the University of Montenegro, the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA), ENGSO Youth, Fútbol Más and the Andalusian Youth Institute, Save the Dream contributes to the project’s research, stakeholder consultation and educational activities.