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to organise IOC Athlete Career Programme (ACP) Outreach workshops. These interactive sessions are led by retired Olympic athletes and cover topics including developing CVs and résumés, interview techniques and networking skills. Once again, the benefi ts of taking part in such workshops cannot be underestimated for athletes wishing to fi nd a new career. One Olympian who can speak with authority on the good work being done at these Outreach workshops is Isménia Da Frederico, a retired sprinter who represented Cape Verde at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996 and in Sydney four years later.In her present role as Cape Verde’s Athletes’ Commission Representative, she offers guidance to the country’s athletes during and after their competitive careers. She also helped run two Outreach workshops in November 2016 and April 2017 alongside her compatriot and fellow Olympian Leonardo Cunha, which attracted a total of 63 participants. “The most important thing for athletes participating in the Athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The 37-year-old cannot stress enough the importance of making the most of the funding available, and hopes it will improve the lives of many more refugees in the future. “My advice to the other refugee athletes is this: use this opportunity to achieve your goals,” he says. “You must be strong if you are to change your life, and with this opportunity as an Olympian you can show that your dreams can become real. “We are a symbol of hope for millions of refugees around the world.”Refugee Athlete Support is geared towards those in a position far less stable than participants in the Athlete Career Transition programme, who, having already established themselves in sport, are now considering their job prospects once their competition days are over. However, the two initiatives do share a core ethos: the desire to help athletes. One way in which Athlete Career Transition does this is by working alongside NOCs to support the development of the athletes’ education. Beneficiaries of the programme (who must be Olympians) are offered individual grants that enable them to receive training, enrol in educational courses and eventually gain qualifications, aiding the transition to their chosen careers once they stop competing.This assistance can take many forms. In addition to academic degree programmes there is also the opportunity to acquire invaluable computer skills, while athletes with a very basic level of education can learn to read, write and speak key international languages such as English and French. Athletes are also encouraged to complete a free online IOC Athlete Learning Gateway course called “Preparing for Future Success”, further helping them to map out their future careers.Then there is the Athlete Career Transition programme’s other focus: providing fi nancial support to NOCs Career Transition programme is to build a solid future career for themselves,” Da Frederico explains. “They must always innovate and develop their ability, and never settle in their comfort zone. Although it’s very important to have goals, it’s also essential to plan your future through training and job opportunities.”In addition, Olympic Solidarity has encouraged the NOCs adopting the Athlete Career Transition programme (which has been allocated a budget of USD 3 million in the Olympic Solidarity plan 2017-2020) to increase the participation of women and to submit the same number of male and female applicants over the next four years – a clear commitment to greater inclusivity and equality.Olympic Solidarity launched Refugee Athlete Support and Athlete Career Transition at the beginning of 2017. Through these two initiatives, there are high hopes that help and support can be provided to more athletes than ever before – from all corners of the world, and from all walks of life. ■BelowAthlete Career Transition helps athletes after they retire from competition66 OLYMPIC REVIEW OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY