Right To Play
Right To Play is an international nonprofit organization that uses play and sport-based learning to help children affected by conflict, poverty, disease, and exclusion.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Right To Play is an international nonprofit organization focused on improving children's education, health, protection, and participation through play. The organization was established in 2000 by Norwegian Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss, building on humanitarian and fundraising work he had undertaken through Olympic Aid after visiting Eritrea in 1994. Rather than treating sport and play solely as recreational activities, Right To Play uses structured games, physical activity, and play-based teaching methods as tools for learning, psychosocial support, social inclusion, and behavior change. The organization initially developed programs in settings affected by war and displacement. Its first projects were launched in Angola and Côte d'Ivoire in 2001 in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. These early programs reflected the organization's original emphasis on sport for development and on helping children cope with the effects of armed conflict, poverty, and disease. Over time, its approach broadened from direct sports programming toward play-based learning integrated into formal and non-formal education systems. Right To Play's work is organized around four broad outcome areas: quality education; children's health and well-being; girls' empowerment; and child protection. Programs may involve teacher training, classroom methods, community activities, child-friendly protection systems, and support for displaced or otherwise marginalized children. The organization has also worked with governments, schools, educational institutions, and community organizations in an effort to move beyond isolated projects and influence education systems at national or regional scale. Its geographic work has included countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, while national offices have been established in Canada, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Canada, the organization has developed programming with Indigenous communities. Indigenous leaders proposed a partnership in 2010, and Right To Play has subsequently reported collaboration with more than 70 Indigenous communities on programs for children and youth. The organization has also supported children affected by the Syrian civil war in Jordan and Lebanon since 2013. Right To Play has participated in international advocacy as well as program delivery. In 2018, it joined a coalition urging G7 leaders to make a global funding commitment for girls' education. In Mozambique, a coalition of nonprofits and civil-society groups led by Right To Play successfully challenged a policy requiring pregnant girls and new mothers to leave ordinary schools and attend night classes; the decree was repealed in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Right To Play worked with governments and schools to support remote learning for children whose education had been disrupted. The organization has also had a notable relationship with the Olympic movement. Its founder's Olympic background and the organization's origins in Olympic Aid gave it a prominent role in humanitarian activity connected with the Games. However, the International Olympic Committee and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games excluded Right To Play from an official role at the Vancouver Games because several of its corporate supporters were considered competitors of Olympic sponsors. Despite that setback, Right To Play continued operating as an independent humanitarian and education organization. Its present identity is centered less on Olympic fundraising and more on evidence-informed play-based learning, partnerships with public institutions, and long-term support for vulnerable children.
History
Right To Play emerged from the humanitarian work of Norwegian Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss. After traveling to Eritrea in 1994 through Olympic Aid, Koss became involved in raising awareness and funds for children affected by war, poverty, and disease. The experience helped shape the idea that sport and play could be used not only to collect donations but also to deliver practical support and create opportunities for children living in difficult circumstances. In 2000, Koss incorporated Right To Play as an independent nonprofit organization. This marked a transition from a fundraising vehicle connected to Olympic humanitarian activity to an organization that directly implemented programs. Its first programs began in Angola and Côte d'Ivoire in 2001, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. These projects established the organization's early model: using organized play and sport to support children affected by displacement, conflict, and social disruption. During its first years, Right To Play was closely associated with sport for development. The organization gradually expanded the concept into a broader play-based learning methodology. Games and physical activities became tools for classroom instruction, social-emotional development, health education, child protection, and community participation. This shift allowed Right To Play to work not only with children directly but also with teachers, schools, governments, and other institutions that shape children's everyday environments. The organization expanded its international presence across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, while establishing national offices in Canada, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2010, Indigenous leaders proposed a partnership in Canada to provide extracurricular activities for Indigenous children and youth. Right To Play's Indigenous programming later developed into collaboration with more than 70 Indigenous communities, becoming an important part of its Canadian work. Conflict and displacement remained central to the organization's humanitarian activities. From 2013, Right To Play supported children affected by the Syrian civil war in Jordan and Lebanon. These programs reflected the organization's use of play to address both educational disruption and the emotional and social effects of displacement. Right To Play also became involved in international policy advocacy. In 2018, it joined a global coalition of nongovernmental organizations and civil-society groups calling on G7 leaders to commit CAD 2.9 billion to girls' education. In Mozambique, a coalition led by Right To Play campaigned against a policy that forced pregnant girls and new mothers out of regular schooling and into night classes. The policy was repealed in 2019, representing a significant child-rights and education-policy outcome. The COVID-19 pandemic required another adjustment in delivery methods. In 2020, Right To Play worked with governments and schools to provide remote-learning opportunities for children unable to attend school in person. This complemented its longer-term movement toward system-level partnerships and education-sector reform. Right To Play's Olympic history has included both visibility and institutional tension. The organization had links to Olympic Aid from the 1990s and held an official role at Olympic events from 2004 onward. In October 2008, however, the International Olympic Committee and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games barred it from an official role at the Vancouver Games. The stated reason was a conflict between sponsors supporting Right To Play, including Canon, Scotiabank, and Mitsubishi, and Olympic sponsors such as Kodak, Royal Bank of Canada, and General Motors. Over time, Right To Play's identity has moved further from Olympic fundraising and toward a specialized international development model. Its current framework centers on quality education, children's health and well-being, girls' empowerment, and child protection. The organization seeks to combine direct programming with teacher development, government cooperation, and institutional partnerships so that play-based methods can influence education and child-welfare systems at scale.
- 2020
Remote-learning support during COVID-19
[1]The organization worked with governments and schools to help children continue learning during pandemic disruptions.
- 2019
Mozambique school exclusion decree repealed
[1]A civil-society coalition led by Right To Play helped overturn a decree that excluded pregnant girls and new mothers from regular schooling.
- 2018
Advocacy for expanded girls' education funding
[1]Right To Play joined an international coalition calling for a CAD 2.9 billion G7 commitment to girls' education.
- 2013
Programs begin for Syrian refugee children
[1]Right To Play began supporting children affected by the Syrian civil war in Jordan and Lebanon.
- 2010
Indigenous programming partnership proposed in Canada
[1]Indigenous leaders proposed collaboration with Right To Play to provide extracurricular programming for Indigenous children and youth.
- 2008
Vancouver 2010 official-role exclusion announced
[1]Olympic organizers cited sponsorship conflicts in excluding Right To Play from an official role at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- 2004
Right To Play begins official Olympic Games involvement
[1]Right To Play was present in an official role at Summer and Winter Olympic Games from 2004 before its exclusion from the Vancouver 2010 Games.
- 2001
First programs launch in Angola and Côte d'Ivoire
[1]The organization's initial programs began in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
- 2000
Right To Play is founded
[1]Koss incorporated Right To Play as an independent nonprofit organization focused on directly implementing programs for vulnerable children.
- 1994
Johann Olav Koss begins Olympic Aid humanitarian work
[1]After visiting Eritrea through Olympic Aid, Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss began work that later provided the foundation for Right To Play.
Products and positioning
An international child-focused nonprofit that uses play as a practical method for education, protection, psychosocial support, health promotion, and social change.
Education program
Play-based learning
Right To Play's core program model uses structured games, movement, and play activities to support classroom learning and children's social, emotional, and cognitive development. The approach is designed for use by teachers, schools, and community facilitators, rather than being a consumer product.
Community and youth program · 2010
Indigenous programming
The organization's Canadian Indigenous programming provides extracurricular and community-based activities for Indigenous children and youth. It developed from a partnership proposed by Indigenous leaders in 2010 and has expanded to work with more than 70 Indigenous communities.
Humanitarian program · 2001
Refugee and conflict-response programs
Right To Play uses play and sport-based activities to support children affected by conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises. The model began with programs in Angola and Côte d'Ivoire and later included support for Syrian refugee children in Jordan and Lebanon.
Education capacity-building
Teacher and education-system support
Rather than limiting its work to direct services, Right To Play collaborates with teachers, schools, governments, and educational institutions to embed play-based learning in education systems and improve outcomes at broader scale.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Mozambique education equality campaign
Mozambique
Right To Play led a coalition challenging a decree that required pregnant girls and new mothers to leave regular schools and attend night classes.
Outcome. The decree was repealed, allowing affected girls and young mothers to return to ordinary schooling rather than being compelled to attend separate night classes.
- 2018G7 girls' education funding advocacy
International
Right To Play joined a global coalition of nonprofit and civil-society organizations advocating for a G7 pledge of CAD 2.9 billion to support girls' education.
Outcome. The advocacy positioned girls' education as a major international policy and funding priority; the available reference does not establish the precise outcome of the requested pledge.
Brand decisions
2020
Shift to remote-learning support during the pandemicStrategyBackground
COVID-19 disrupted in-person schooling and affected children's access to education.
Action taken
Right To Play worked with governments and schools to provide remote-learning opportunities.
Aftermath
The organization extended its education-support model beyond in-person play and classroom delivery during the pandemic.
2010
Expansion of Indigenous programming in CanadaStrategyBackground
Indigenous leaders proposed working with Right To Play to provide extracurricular programs for Indigenous children and youth.
Action taken
Right To Play developed and expanded programming in collaboration with Indigenous communities.
Aftermath
The organization reports collaboration with more than 70 Indigenous communities on Indigenous programming.
2000
Transition from Olympic fundraising to direct nonprofit implementationStrategyBackground
The organization's origins lay in Johann Olav Koss's Olympic Aid fundraising and awareness work for children affected by humanitarian crises.
Action taken
Koss incorporated Right To Play as a nonprofit that could directly implement programs using play and sport.
Aftermath
Right To Play developed from a fundraising vehicle into an international organization delivering education, health, protection, and empowerment programs.
Sources2 sources
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