Sport for community impact: Sandvik in Brazil
Sandvik is partnering with a Brazilian sports club dedicated to youth development and social inclusion, reinforcing its commitment to creating lasting impact in the communities it serves.
Founded in 1940, the Olympico Club in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is a well-established sports institution offering structured training programs for children and adolescents aged 7 to 18. A significant proportion of participants come from low-income and socially vulnerable families, making the club an important platform for social inclusion in the region.
Through its Sports and Para-sports initiative, Olympico Club delivers regular coaching sessions across several sports disciplines, such as volleyball and swimming, alongside wheelchair basketball for young athletes with disabilities. The club provides access to sports facilities, equipment, uniforms, and daily meals, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent participation.
Beyond athletic training, the program integrates psychological counseling and support from social workers, creating a holistic development environment where young people can grow both physically and personally. By combining structured sports training with social support, Olympico Club functions not only as a training center, but as a safe and inclusive community hub for youth development.
“We didn’t want just our logotype on a jersey. For us, it’s important that the project tackles the lack of access to quality sports infrastructure and social support for underprivileged youth in urban centers,” says Cristiane Fontes, Marketing Manager for Rock Processing at Sandvik in Latin America.
Strong social impact for vulnerable youth
Through Brazil’s Federal Incentive Law, Sandvik can redirect part of its income tax to government-approved social initiatives, ensuring responsible use of resources while maximizing social return.
During 2025, the initiative reached more than 800 children and adolescents, of which over 60 percent came from low-income and socially vulnerable families.
We are directly addressing social inequality within our local community.
“The inclusion of wheelchair basketball is a tangible expression of the commitment to diversity and inclusion and equal opportunities at Sandvik,” says Fontes.
Shared values build local trust
The initiative generates value beyond the immediate community. By supporting a wellknown local institution, Sandvik strengthens its relationships with customers and partners in the region.
The collaboration highlights shared values, such as inclusion, responsibility, and long-term commitment, reinforcing trust and credibility within the local business ecosystem. These connections create a positive ripple effect, showing how social initiatives can align with stakeholders while keeping the focus on meaningful impact.
Employee engagement as the next step
Insights from the project’s first year are guiding both its continued implementation and the design of future social initiatives. One key learning is the potential for combining financial support with structured opportunities for employee engagement.
“While the first year focused on establishing the partnership and delivering community impact, the ambition moving forward is to create structured opportunities for employees to engage directly with the project,” says Fontes.