Destiny, originally from Nigeria, dreams of basketball. For a long time, he trained without ever getting the chance to play in an official match. Although he was born in Italy, he is perceived as a foreigner there. 

Massimo Antonelli, a former player who became a coach, refuses to leave these young people behind and founded Tam Tam Basketball. Thanks to the club’s determination, Destiny can finally put on his jersey and step onto the court, realizing his dream. Destiny is now 21 years old and obtained Italian nationality at 18.

Thanks to this project, over 1800 young people have had the opportunity to find their place, develop, and fulfill themselves. 

“The Decathlon Foundation was the first to believe in us. It gave us a home to grow, to live, to play,” said Massimo Antonelli.

Today, Loubna is a French teacher in Tiznit, her hometown in southern Morocco. A passionate graduate, she passes on to others what she has received.

In this photo, she is 15 years old, and to get to school, she has to walk nearly 2 hours every day. Many girls in her village then drop out of school.

But in 2006, Loubna was one of 200 girls who received a bicycle thanks to the “A Bike for Them” project, led by the Juste pour Eux association alongside the Decathlon Foundation. This mode of transport became much more than a simple object: it opened the way for her to school, freedom, and the future. Loubna was able to continue her studies, and the baccalaureate success rate for girls who received a bicycle was 3 times higher than the national average.

The impact of this initiative was so significant that the Moroccan Ministry of Education, in turn, decided to distribute 1.5 million bicycles to children in rural areas of the country.

A bicycle can change a life.

Since 2022, the Decathlon Lisbon teams have been committed to promoting access to sports for autistic individuals. Micas, one of the beneficiaries, discovered CrossFit at 47… and it was a revelation. He became passionate about the discipline and makes progress every day.

To date, more than 530 people, aged 6 to 65, have already benefited from this program. In 2023, Micas reached a new milestone by completing his first professional internship at Decathlon Amadora—an important step towards inclusion through sport.

To surpass oneself, to reveal oneself, to include oneself. Thanks to sport.

Béatrice Hess has made her life a battle. Born with a severe disability, she became a legend in Paralympic sport, winning 26 medals ! A committed member of the Decathlon Foundation board since its inception, Béatrice fell in love with the Handiski project, an initiative that makes the mountains accessible to people with disabilities.

Thanks to the dedication of the Morillon resort in Haute-Savoie, the mountains, once synonymous with obstacles, now become a playground and a source of wonder for everyone.

“I felt like I could fly and touch the tops of the fir trees. I never thought I could go so high in altitude one day and experience such exhilarating sensations.”

On August 4, 2021, one year after the explosion that struck Beirut, the first public skatepark opened thanks to the involvement of the Decathlon Skateboarding teams, the Decathlon Foundation, and the NGO Make Life Skate Like.

The goal: to transform a former wasteland into a place of sharing that fosters hope and promotes inclusion. Regardless of their origins, genders, or religions, these young people gather to learn how to skate.

Mike, a passionate teacher, gives lessons to Palestinian and Syrian children from the nearby refugee camp. “Skateboarding changed my life. When you skate, you just want to have fun; you don’t think about negative things… This place will change their lives.”

Since 2021, Decathlon Colombia, through its Donathlon program, has transformed lives in La Bendición de Dios, a popular neighborhood in Barranquilla.

In collaboration with the Fundación Amor Fiel, the initiative has distributed over 1,000 pieces of sports equipment and organized more than 150 classes for the children and young people of the foundation.

Decathlon employees, acting as volunteers, have contributed their expertise, strengthening community cohesion and offering young people moments of joy, hope, and dignity, all while proving that solidarity and sport can change lives.

In Phnom Penh, the Decathlon team is committed to working with the Happy Chandara school to make sport a real lever for girls’ empowerment.

In 2021, thanks to the support of the Decathlon Foundation, a sports field was built in the heart of the school, which supports no fewer than 1700 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds towards high-level schooling.

Tina Kieffer, a French journalist, is the founder of this life-changing school. “The level of education of girls indicates the degree of freedom and democracy in a country.”

Since 2014, the partnership between Apanid and the Decathlon Madrid teams has been an enduring human adventure. Every month, over 600 people with disabilities discover a new sport, filled with joy, sharing, and laughter.

Thanks to donated equipment and the consistent presence of Decathlon volunteers, sport becomes a language of friendship and social connection. 

Manolo discovered football at 75, while Ramon, 41, shares his joy of playing sports: “I have a great time playing sports when the Decathlon volunteers come, especially when we play basketball.”

Giving a basketball to 1000 young girls in Senegal, it’s offering them a chance : to gain self-confidence. 

At the initiative of this project, Syra Sylla, founder of Dakar Hoops and Ladies & Basketball, testifies: “Giving them a ball is giving them the opportunity to train freely and gain autonomy. This simple ball can be the beginning of a beautiful adventure for each of these little girls. Let’s give them the means to dream big and make the potential hidden in each of them shine.”

Beyond the basketball sessions, the girls participate in workshops on female leadership and sexual and reproductive health.

Sadou, 11, felt different because of his disability. But six months ago, everything changed. He joined an adaptive football team, thanks to Procap, Switzerland’s largest self-help organization for people with disabilities. Now, every Wednesday, he shares moments of football, fun, and friendship with other children like him. 

At Neuchâtel, 70 young people participate in activities like football, swimming, or basketball.

Adeline, a Decathlon Switzerland teammate, is one of the coaches who accompanies them each week. “Teaching football to children with disabilities allows me to challenge my assumptions and experience unique moments of sharing, filled with love and kindness.”