Kenya rugby sevens star Kevin Wekesa has won the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Award 2025 for his Play Green programme, using sport as a platform for sustainability.
Play Green has cut single-use plastics from national teams, planted over 2,300 trees, introduced match-day recycling, and engaged thousands of students in climate education.
The IOC Climate Action Awards recognise how rugby can be a force for sustainability, community impact and climate justice.
Other 2025 winners are Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis (New Zealand), the NOC of the Netherlands, and the International Biathlon Union, with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and World Sailing receiving “Highly Commended” recognition.
Wekesa founded Play Green to use sport as a platform for climate action, responding to the rising temperatures and desertification that are already disrupting livelihoods across Kenya.
The programme has so far replaced single-use plastic bottles with reusable aluminium bottles for Kenya’s national rugby teams, saving nearly 1,000 plastic bottles every week.
At the same time, Wekesa has embedded sustainability into education and community engagement. Through partnerships with 40 schools, Play Green combines tree-planting with workshops on water conservation, waste management and climate justice. To date, the initiative has supported the planting of 2,300 trees and engaged thousands of children in climate education.
Wekesa has extended this work to clubs and federations, launching match-day recycling initiatives and installing clearly marked recycling bins and collection points to divert waste from landfill.
His ambition is to scale Play Green nationwide by introducing plastic-free stadium zones, encouraging biodegradable packaging and establishing a Green Ambassador programme in schools. With the support of this award, Kevin aims to turn these plans into a replicable model for grassroots climate action through sport.
“Huge congratulations to Kevin for flying the flag for Kenya – on and off the field,” Rugby Afrique said.
The announcement was made during the IOC Session held in Milan, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on 4 February.
“As athletes, we learn early on to focus on what we can control and to keep pushing and adapt, even when conditions are not perfect,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry. “That spirit is exactly what drives the IOC Climate Action Awards. Our winners are showing that protecting our planet and pursuing excellence can go hand in hand. Their work shows the impact of the Olympic community when it leans in together with purpose. What an inspiration.”
“Congratulations to the 2025 winners and those ‘Highly Commended’,” said Mark Price, Principal and Global Lead Client Service Partner for the International Olympic Committee at Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Leveraging their athletic drive, the winners were compelling in their ability to deliver measurable benefits and scalable solutions. Deloitte is honoured to be a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner and delighted to support these awards, which help to enhance resilience for sports and communities globally.”
Key facts:
- The IOC Climate Action Awards recognise impactful initiatives that address climate change across the Olympic Movement in three categories: athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs).
- The awards provide tailored support to winners, including Innovation Labs for NOCs and IFs and a six-month sustainability mentoring programme for athlete awardees.
