Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Meets the Olympic Spirit: Dreaming of a New Future Through Technology and Sports with the IOC

Earlier this month, Samsung’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, participated in a global gathering of changemakers hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where innovation, sport and social impact converged under the banner of “Sport for a Better World.”

From June 3-5, Samsung participated in the first Olympism365 Summit: Sport For A Better World Summit at the IOC headquarters to showcase its Solve for Tomorrow vision of empowering youth through education and technology, highlighting stories from around the around the world that show how the program is helping young people tackle real-world challenges in their communities.

Over three days, the event brought together more than 250 representatives from 100 organisations across the Olympic Movement, United Nations agencies, development and financing institutions, civil society, for-purpose business, safe sport community and IOC Young Leaders, working together to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sport.

IOC President Thomas Bach delivers a keynote at the IOC Youth Summit

Running within the Olympism365 Summit program, the IOC Youth Summit provided a platform for IOC Young Leaders to contribute their perspectives, collaborate on innovative solutions and shape the future of sport for development, offering a vital contribution to the Olympism365 strategy focused on building a better world through sport.

During the summit, Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia, the 2022 winner of the United Kingdom’s Solve for Tomorrow program, spoke about how the experience shaped her personal growth.

“What started off as a challenging experience which left me feeling isolated, vulnerable and stereotyped when using a white cane quickly fuelled the evolution of award-winning MyVision. This is thanks to the amazing Samsung Solve for Tomorrow mentors who helped me utilise the design thinking process and technical expertise to create a truly life-changing device.”

She also shared her journey developing MyVision, a smart assistive device designed to help people with congenital visual impairments. Drawing from her own experience with visual impairment, Ramneek described how Solve for Tomorrow helped her to grow and outlined her ongoing efforts to expand her dream realised through Solve for Tomorrow into broader educational and career opportunities for others with similar challenges.

2022 U.K. Solve for Tomorrow winner Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia shares her journey with IOC Young Leaders

The event also provided opportunities to engage with IOC officials and other Young Leaders from around the world. Ramneek met with Sherief Kholeif, a U.K.-based IOC Young Leader, to discuss sports programs for marginalised youth in Scotland and exchanged ideas participants on the social impact of combining sport and technology.

Building on its participation in the Olympism365 Summit and the IOC Youth Summit, Samsung plans to strengthen its collaboration with the IOC by designating “Social Change Through Sport & Technology” as its global theme for Solve for Tomorrow 2025. In doing so, the company will continue to support young people worldwide in developing creative, practical ideas to drive positive change in their communities.

“It was a pleasure to meet Ramneek,” said one of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow ambassadors at the IOC Youth Summit. “Her innovative and thoughtful ideas are inspiring. It is encouraging to see Samsung paving way for young students around the world who believe in creating a more accessible and inclusive future through innovation. I hope the Solve for Tomorrow program continues to create meaningful opportunities for my fellow young leaders and that together we can make a difference combining technology and sport.”

(Left) Sherief Kholeif, U.K. IOC Young Leader, with (Right) Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia following her presentation.

Notably, “Social Change Through Sport & Technology” was selected through a public vote held during the Olympics in Paris last year. The theme reflects growing global concerns around sustainability and sport, encouraging young people to develop innovative solutions that demonstrate the positive social and environmental impact of sport.

Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia joins IOC Young Leaders for a group photo.