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B2B e-commerce platform Alibaba.com is joining forces with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to encourage the business ambitions of current and former athletes.
The platform will take part in the fourth edition of Athlete365 Business Accelerator, an IOC-led initiative that helps athletes find dual-career and career-transition opportunities.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of former athletes reported difficulties in finding new careers after sport, according to a recent survey commissioned by Alibaba.com.
“We at Alibaba.com are keen to support athletes in harnessing their skills to achieve success in their entrepreneurial pursuits,” Alibaba.com President Kuo Zhang said in a statement.
Alibaba.com is the first worldwide Olympic and Paralympic e-commerce partner to join Athlete365 Business Accelerator.
As part of the program, Alibaba.com aims to provide business training to over 1,000 athletes and will also offer 50 top candidates Business Accelerator packages worth $10,000.
These packages combine logistics, operational and sourcing training to give participants additional insights into the world of B2B e-commerce.
“By equipping athletes with the right training and skills through Alibaba.com’s mentoring program and digital tools, together, we will give aspiring athlete and Olympian entrepreneurs the boost they need to start their own businesses,” said Kaveh Mehrabi, Director of the Athletes’ Department at the IOC.
Alibaba.com has tapped a number of former athletes as ambassadors ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, including four-time NBA winner and two-time Olympian Tony Parker.
“I’m a regular buyer on Alibaba.com and have seen first-hand the huge value that can be created by connecting with suppliers and efficiently sourcing products through its innovative digital platform,” said Parker earlier in July.
He is joined by Simona Galik Moore, a former Women’s Tennis Association professional, and mountain biker Elias Schwärzler as Alibaba.com Global Ambassadors.
