ThinkSport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities Launch Global Challenge to Strengthen Belonging in Sport

Youth-informed initiative will seek practical solutions from around the world that can be adapted and scaled in Canadian communities

TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2026 /CNW/ — ThinkSport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart) today launched the Canadian Sport Innovation Challenge, a global call for practical, scalable solutions to help create more welcoming and inclusive sport environments for young people across Canada.

The Challenge builds on findings from Jumpstart’s 2025 State of Youth Sport in Canada research, which found that connection is one of the strongest drivers of participation. More than half of youth surveyed (56 per cent) said playing with friends is a top reason they participate in sport. At the same time, one in five parents said they have hesitated to enrol their child in sport because of concerns about whether they would feel welcome.

The Canadian Sport Innovation Challenge aims to turn those insights into action by looking globally for existing solutions that can be adapted, validated, or scaled within Canada’s youth sport system. Submissions will focus on four areas that can shape a young person’s experience in sport: supportive coaching, parents and families, peer connection, and relatable role models.

From Global Innovation to Canadian Impact

The Challenge combines ThinkSport’s international sport innovation network with Jumpstart’s deep understanding of community sport in Canada. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped more than 4.5 million kids access sport and play and invested more than $329 million in community sport and play initiatives across the country.

ThinkSport works across the international sport ecosystem to identify needs, source scalable solutions, and enable real-world testing. Organizations within that global innovation network will be presented with a challenge identified by Canadian youth, with the goal of finding solutions that can make a tangible difference in their sport experiences.

“We are very excited to collaborate with Jumpstart and build a bridge between Canada’s and Switzerland’s sport innovation ecosystems,” said Claudine Breton, Director General, ThinkSport. “The most meaningful innovation starts with a real need. By bringing together young people’s experiences with innovators and expertise from around the world, we have an opportunity to find practical solutions that can help young people stay active, connected and engaged in sport.”

“For more than 20 years, Jumpstart has worked to help remove the barriers that keep kids on the sidelines. But getting kids into sport is only part of the equation. We also need to create experiences that make them feel welcome, connected, and want to keep playing,” said Marco Di Buono, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “This Challenge starts with what young people are telling us about their own experiences, and opens the door to ideas from around the world that can help strengthen youth sport here at home.”

Shaped by Young People

Young people are not only at the centre of the Challenge, they are helping shape it.

In July 2026, ThinkSport and Jumpstart brought together 12 alumni from Jumpstart’s Play to Lead program, a leadership development program that supports girls and young women in building leadership skills in and through sport. Drawing on their own experiences, the young leaders helped identify the opportunity at the centre of the Challenge: How might we build a sport community, including coaches, parents, teammates and others, that is so supportive that every young athlete feels they truly belong and can see themselves in the game?

Play to Lead alumni will continue to play a role throughout the Challenge, helping shape evaluation criteria, reviewing submissions and providing feedback as potential solutions are considered.

How to Apply

The Canadian Sport Innovation Challenge is seeking existing solutions that have demonstrated potential and can be adapted, validated or scaled within Canada’s youth sport landscape.

Eligible applicants include academics, entrepreneurs, social innovators and technology organizations with relevant technology, services, programs or operational expertise.

Organizations from around the world are invited to apply by November 22, 2026, on Agorize.

Following an expert review process, five finalists will be selected in December 2026 and invited to present their solutions in Canada in early 2027. A selected solution will then be developed, tested and implemented with Jumpstart in Canadian communities.

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart) is a national charity committed to enabling lifelong success through access to sport and play for children and youth across Canada by addressing financial, physical, and systemic barriers. With an extensive national network comprising more than 1,000 grantees and 289 local chapters, Jumpstart is dedicated to empowering community partners in the development of inclusive programming and infrastructure for Canadian kids of all abilities. Supported by Canadian Tire Corporation, Jumpstart has provided more than 4.5 million opportunities for Canadian kids to get into the game since 2005. For more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.  

About ThinkSport

Home to major sport organisations, Lausanne, the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, and the International Olympic Committee are uniquely positioned to bolster the progression of the international sports movement. This proximity offers unparalleled opportunities for both current endeavors and future innovation. At ThinkSport, we leverage this backdrop by spotlighting the region’s rich reservoir of knowledge, expertise, and diverse sporting initiatives. By fostering connections within the global sporting community, we facilitate collaborative efforts aimed at driving positive change and shaping the future of sports on a global scale. Since our establishment in 2015, we have been dedicated to catalyzing meaningful partnerships and driving cutting-edge initiatives that support organisations in effecting sustainable change through innovation. As a central hub for collaboration, we strive to establish impactful partnerships that contribute to the evolution of sports, promoting sustainability, health, excellence, and growth in the sporting world.

For more information:

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart): [email protected]

ThinkSport: [email protected]

SOURCE Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities