The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has nominated Darcy Bourne, a hockey player from the England and Great Britain women’s national team, as an Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (31 October–13 November), which will be held for the first time on African soil, in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal.
Reacting to her nomination – which was proposed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to the IOC – Darcy Bourne said: “I'm feeling really excited and lucky to have been nominated as an Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympics! I love sport, and the Olympics has always been a dream of mine since I was really young, so it's awesome to be able to support these athletes perform at a top level at such a young age.” “I'm also really excited to go to Dakar, as Senegal has a special place in my heart as I volunteer for AYDA – a charity which is supported by the African Strategic Outreach Alliance - in Saint Louis, Senegal, so I can't wait to go back”, she added.
The purpose of the IOC’s ARM programme is to connect experienced Olympians and elite athletes with the next generation of young athletes. ARMs guide, support, and inspire young athletes by sharing their journeys and being present throughout the Games. ARMs help young athletes by sharing knowledge and personal experience, inspiring them both on and off the field of play, supporting their well-being and mental preparation, promoting Olympic values, and engaging with wider youth communities.
Commenting on her role in Dakar, Darcy said: “I hope to be an inspiring but relatable role model for the athletes, because as a young person I looked up to professional athletes so highly. I want to help them feel supported, represented and help them on their journeys.”
Darcy’s nomination aligns perfectly with her own philosophy on how athletes can have a positive impact not only on the field of play but also beyond it: “I feel really passionately about the power of sport for improving young lives. I'm massively committed to sport and social change, which goes hand in hand with this opportunity. So off-pitch in Dakar, I'm looking forward to being an approachable role model for the athletes. I'd love to help answer any questions they have, and support them both as athletes and people no matter where they come from or what sport they do.”
Commenting on the news, FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “In my personal name and on behalf of the global hockey community, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Darcy Bourne on her nomination. Hockey athletes are the best ambassadors of our sport, and Darcy, with her outstanding qualities as a player as well as her strong commitment to social initiatives, will represent hockey superbly at the first Youth Olympic Games in Africa.”
Darcy Bourne was one of eight players added to England’s women's squad in January 2022 having impressed during the Talent Confirmation process. She made her senior international debut for England against Argentina in February 2022. She progressed through the junior England Age Group set-up, representing the U16 team and winning bronze with the U18s at the 2018 EuroHockey Youth Championships. In 2022 she played in the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Netherlands & Spain. Darcy also spent a year playing at Duke University in the USA while off the field she is also a passionate advocate for equality in both sport and society, co-founding the Raising Her Game programme.
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