An International Olympic Committee (IOC) accolade has been bestowed upon Kevin Wekesa, a Kenyan Olympic rugby sevens athlete, recognizing his endeavors to combat climate change and foster greater sustainability within sports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Awards for 2025 have designated Wekesa as one of its recipients, alongside New Zealand’s Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis, the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF), and the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
This declaration took place at the IOC Session convened in Milan, preceding the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
At 25 years old, Wekesa established Play Green, an initiative designed to leverage sports as a vehicle for environmental efforts, specifically addressing the escalating temperatures and land degradation currently impacting communities throughout Kenya.
To date, this program has substituted disposable plastic bottles with durable aluminum alternatives for Kenya’s national rugby squads, thereby preventing the use of almost 1,000 plastic bottles on a weekly basis.
Concurrently, Wekesa, who possesses a five-year tenure in international sevens play, has integrated principles of environmental responsibility into both educational curricula and outreach activities within communities.
Collaborating with 40 educational institutions, Play Green integrates arboreal planting endeavors with instructional sessions focused on water preservation, refuse control, and equitable climate solutions. As of now, this endeavor has facilitated the planting of 2,300 trees and involved thousands of young learners in environmental awareness programs.
He has also expanded these efforts to encompass various clubs and governing bodies, instituting recycling programs during match days and deploying prominently labeled recycling receptacles and gathering stations to reroute refuse from disposal sites.
Wekesa’s objective is to broaden Play Green’s reach across the nation by implementing stadium areas free of plastics, promoting eco-friendly packaging, and initiating a Green Ambassador scheme within educational settings.
Leveraging the backing provided by this recognition, Wekesa intends to transform these proposals into an adaptable blueprint for community-level environmental action facilitated by athletic pursuits.
