At the Sport for a Better World Summit hosted by the IOC and Olympism365 in Lausanne, Switzerland (3–5 June 2025), a new digital tool was introduced to support learning and collaboration across the sport for development global community. NOVA is an AI-powered companion designed to help users access information more easily, engage with current thinking and explore innovation topics in sport and sustainable development.
The team at the Olympism365 Innovation Hub is exploring how emerging technologies can improve how knowledge is shared and used, especially in fields like sport for development, where accessibility and context matter. As such, NOVA represents the Hub’s first flagship AI project.
What are digital avatars and why use them?
Digital avatars are interactive, AI-driven interfaces that allow users to have voice or text-based conversations with a computer-generated character. They use a combination of natural language processing, speech recognition and large language models (LLMs) to provide responses in real time and in multiple languages.
Rather than reading through long reports or navigating complex platforms, users can simply ask a question and receive a clear, relevant answer, or be guided to useful resources. This approach can make learning more immediate and accessible, particularly for those working in time-constrained or resource-limited settings.
For the sport for development sector, digital avatars like NOVA can help overcome practical barriers such as limited access to expert support, language differences and time zone constraints. They can also support self-guided learning and reflection, which is essential for both frontline practitioners and strategic leaders.
How does NOVA work?
NOVA is powered by a large language model trained on a wide range of content from the Olympism365 Innovation Hub and related sources in sport and development. This ensures that responses are tailored to the context and challenges of the sector.
The underlying technology was developed by Portalis.AI, a partner of Ready Sport Global. The system is modular and scalable, meaning it can adapt as new technologies emerge. It is also designed to connect with external systems and APIs, allowing future integration with other tools or platforms.
To ensure that the avatar stays focused on relevant topics, NOVA was set up with clear boundaries – or “guardrails” – that keep conversations centred on innovation, learning and sport for development. These safeguards help ensure the reliability and relevance of the responses.
Building NOVA for the Olympism365 Innovation Hub
The development of NOVA was led by Ready Sport Global, in partnership with the IOC and the Olympism365 Innovation Hub consortium (Women Win, Beyond Sport and Think Beyond). It followed a structured co-design process:
Stakeholder interviews with IOC and consortium members helped define priorities and aims.
Training content was curated from Olympism365 materials and global sport for development sources.
Design and testing refined NOVA’s tone and personality, user interface and functionality to make it as accessible and relevant as possible.
User feedback was incorporated throughout, including from early testers within the Olympism365 Innovation Hub community.
Launch of NOVA and further testing with Summit attendees.
NOVA as a pilot project
NOVA will be piloted through October 2025. The goals of this pilot phase are to:
Test how AI technologies can support the sport for development sector.
Present information in more engaging, accessible ways.
Offer personalized support based on user queries.
Capture insights and feedback that can shape future digital tools.
Olympism365 Innovation Hub innovators, Olympism365 partners and the wider sport for development global community are encouraged to interact with NOVA and share their experiences.
What NOVA can do
NOVA is designed as a helpful companion for anyone working in or around sport for development. Key features include:
Answering questions: From innovation strategies to case examples, NOVA responds to user queries in real time.
Signposting resources: NOVA can guide users to relevant reports, frameworks or tools.
Supporting learning and reflection: Through conversational prompts, NOVA can help individuals or teams think through their approaches and challenges.
Sharing practical examples: Users can explore case studies and learn from peer experiences within the Olympism365 Innovation Hub.
How to Access NOVA
NOVA is available online, 24/7, and for free via the Olympism365 Innovation Hub Knowledge Exchange Hub. Click on NOVA, and then when you want to ask a question, hold down the microphone icon for as long as you are speaking.
You can:
Ask a question in your own words.
Explore case studies and projects from the Olympism365 Innovation Hub.
Get links to further information or events.
Use prompts to reflect on your own work.
Looking ahead
NOVA is part of a wider effort to make the work of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub as interactive and accessible as possible. By using AI in a practical, thoughtful way, the goal is to support learning, encourage innovation and make useful knowledge easier to access, especially for those working closest to the challenges sport seeks to address.
To try NOVA or learn more about the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, visit the Knowledge Exchange Hub Homepage 👇🏼