ThinkSport brought its 2024 public-facing activities to a close last week with the finale of the 5th Sport Innovation Challenge – GenNext, a celebration of student-driven creativity and fresh thinking in sport. Delivered in collaboration with the Swiss Football Association, this year’s challenge focused on two pressing questions:
- How can non-host cities of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 be transformed into active supporters of the event?
- How can scalable legacy solutions be created for non-host cities?
Following pre-selections by their universities, five finalist teams presented their ideas to an expert jury. Judged on innovation, sustainability, legacy, feasibility, and presentation, Team SMS 3emerged as the jury’s top choice. Team FFHS TW C: “WEURO Fan Compass” secured second place, and Team AISTS 3 placed third while also winning the Public Vote Award, demonstrating widespread appreciation for their innovative approach.
The jury included four sports professionals, each bringing a unique perspective to the evaluation process:
- Alice Holzer, National Legacy Manager at the Swiss Football Association
- Cyril Bouquet, Professor of Innovation at IMD
- Lise Cordey, Head of Women & Sport for the City of Lausanne
- Carla Spielmann, Head of Y+S leadership training in the Canton of Aargau
This year’s challenge saw 154 students and 26 mentors from five Swiss universities collaborate, delivering fresh insights into how sport can engage communities and create lasting impact. The event underlined ThinkSport’s commitment to fostering the next generation of innovators who will shape the future of sport.
Looking ahead, ThinkSport is excited to announce that the challenge will expand internationally in 2025, in partnership with FIBA, creating new opportunities to inspire and connect talent across borders.
Thank you to all participants, mentors, and partners who contributed to this year’s memorable edition of the Sport Innovation Challenge.
