Rotary clubs use sports to create positive change

By Rotary International staff

Rotary clubs worldwide are using sports for more than just competition; they’re creating platforms for positive change. From the cycling routes of Europe to the tennis courts of Brazil and the serene parks of Japan, Rotary members harness the universal appeal of athletic endeavors to support causes including polio eradication, environmental protection, basic education, and social inclusion.

Global

Cycling to Serve: Where Fellowship Meets the Open Road

Cycling to Serve is an international Rotary Fellowship that brings together members who share a passion for cycling and service. From the annual World Championships to scenic four-day tours across Europe, members ride to foster friendship, raise funds, and support local and international projects. Whether tackling a mountain pass or pedaling through quiet countryside, every ride is an opportunity to connect, give back, and promote peace through the simple power of a bike.

Mexico

Cycling 1,500 Miles to End Polio

Felipe Meza, past governor of District 4110 and a member of the Rotary Club of Ciudad Juárez Ejecutivo, undertook a remarkable feat to fight polio last year. He and his team, Más Millas Menos Polio (More Miles, Less Polio), cycled their way from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Rotary International’s headquarters at One Rotary Center in Evanston, Illinois, USA. The 1,500-mile journey began on 19 July 2024 and concluded just 12 days later.

Along the route, they rallied support and raised awareness for the global fight to eradicate polio. Their efforts paid off: The ride generated $US100,000 in donations, which the Gates Foundation will match two-to-one, tripling the impact. The funds raised will contribute to vaccination efforts in the world’s remaining polio-endemic regions, bringing us closer to a polio-free future.

Japan

Walking Together in Blue for Nature and Giving Back

The Rotaract Club of Nagoya Atsuta, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, hosted its third annual “Walk In Blue” fundraising walk at a local park in 2024. The event continues to grow as a meaningful way for residents to exercise, connect with nature, raise environmental awareness, and support social causes.

Participants, all dressed in matching blue T-shirts provided by the club, walked a three-mile route. Along the way, they answered nature-themed quizzes on their cell phones.

More than 70% of the participation fees were donated to Mamekko, a local nonprofit that supports families raising children, while the remaining 30% will help fund next year’s event. The funds raised from previous events were donated to a local environmental group and the Aichi Children’s Hospice Project.

Italy

Inclusive Golfing for Children with Autism

Filippo Alessi, a member of the Rotary Club of Sciacca, Sicily, Italy, and the local group Rotary Golf 4 Autism, believes that golf — a sport renowned for its leisurely pace and harmonious connection with nature — can be a powerful therapeutic resource for children with autism.

Along with golfers from his club and the Rotary Club of Ribera in Sicily, he launched a project in 2021 that continues to make a significant impact today. The initiative offers a tailored program and personalized approach, with specialized instructors using visual and hands-on methods to teach the fundamentals of the game. These methods inspire communication and collaboration, aiming not only to introduce a sport but also to ignite personal growth and social inclusion.

“Time spent on the project is time well spent, and when you’re done, you feel fulfilled and happy,” Alessi said.

Brazil

Sports as a Tool for Social Transformation

From tennis to soccer, Rotary is fostering inclusion, health, and education through sports across Brazil. In Teresópolis, Brazil, the Educating Through Sports project donated over R$7,000 worth of balls, nets, and sports kits to 490 public school students. In Espírito Santo, the Rotary Club of Jaguaré-Centenário constructed tennis courts and a soccer field, thereby expanding access to physical activity within the local community. Initiatives like Good at Tennis, Better at School and Goals & Learning engaged children from low-human development index neighborhoods, combining academic performance with physical development.

Meanwhile, Brazilian Rotary member Marcos Franco uses tennis as the inspiration for educational projects in public schools and social programs such as Uerê in Rio de Janeiro’s Complexo da Maré, blending storytelling, values, and sports experiences. His children’s books have already impacted more than 6,000 kids in Brazil and abroad.

Uganda

Running for a Future Without Cancer

Since 2012, Rotary members in Uganda have rallied communities around the annual Rotary Cancer Run, a dynamic event that uses sports to raise awareness and funds for cancer treatment. What began as a dream to build a cancer ward has evolved into a nationwide event, attracting more than 50,000 participants in 2024 and raising vital funds for cancer prevention, early detection, and care. The proceeds support the Rotary-Centenary Bank Cancer Centre at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya and fuel broader efforts to make treatment affordable and accessible.

United Kingdom

Cause Club “Rotary Sport” — Where Service Meets the Spirit of the Game

The Rotary Club of Rotary Sport was created in 2024. Chartered in Basingstoke, England, this club brings together people united by their love of sport and their determination to make a difference. With members from all over the world, it has raised funds to donate defibrillators in Africa and support youth partnerships in British schools. Backed by sports legends like Peter Shilton and Marilyn Okoro, Rotary Sport is proving that humanitarian action and athletic passion are a winning team.

This story originally appeared in the Rotary Digital Magazine for Great Britain and Ireland.

France

Pedaling for Purpose: Rotary Cycling in France

In the country of the Tour de France, Rotary members are taking cycling beyond sport, turning it into a tool for impact. Across France, clubs and individuals organize or participate in cycling events to raise funds and awareness for causes ranging from childhood illnesses and cancer research to reforestation and adapted sports for cancer survivors. Benjamin Parent, a member of the Rotaract Club of Cannes Riviera in Marseille, cycled the world to plant trees and inspire green entrepreneurship. Philippe Sudres, a member of the Rotary Club of Cahors, Occitania, has ridden thousands of kilometers to support children’s hospitals.

This story originally appeared in the Rotary Mag.

Taiwan

How to Turn Poker into Purpose

Not every culture defines games as sports. On a broader international stage, games like chess and poker are generally categorized as “mind sports.” With this in mind, the Rotary Club of Taipei Tungjen hosted its first-ever “Charity Poker King Tournament” at the Asia Poker Arena to raise funds for vulnerable children and stray animals. Founded just four years ago, the club is quickly building a reputation for its creative and inclusive approach to service.

The event was held in a professional poker setting with a formal dress code and guided instruction for beginners. All proceeds after costs were donated to Yiguang Children’s Home, which cares for children with disabilities, and Taiwan Lang Lang Station, an emergency rescue association for stray animals.

Korea

Cycling Challenge Rallies Support for Global Health

In November 2024, more than 200 Korean Rotary members participated in a nationwide cycling challenge, riding 769 kilometers from Ulsan to Seoul. The Riding Cross Korea challenge emphasized the importance of sustainable habits in everyday life and collective action for good.

The challenge raised more than ₩60 million in donations, all of which were contributed to Rotary’s global polio eradication efforts. Far more than a sports event, the ride demonstrated Rotary’s ability to turn community activities into platforms for public engagement and fundraising. The final ceremony was held at the Zone 11, 12 Institute in Seoul, where the funds were officially presented to 2024-25 RI President Stephanie Urchick.

Germany

Quirky “Curling” Competition

In 2024, the third annual “Iron Cup” competition, hosted by the Rotary Club of Riesa-Elbland, Saxony, Germany, raised around €6,400 for children’s projects in the region. This curling event with a twist saw teams equipped with old clothes irons rather than the usual curling stones. The aim was to slide them as close as possible to a puck on the ice.

Thirty-four local businesses from the area sent teams of three competitors to the ice rink to win the coveted “Golden Iron” trophy. Each team contributed a €200 entry fee, and additional funds were generated through “band hits” (irons hitting the sideboards) and the sale of refreshments, such as hot beverages and brats.

The event got widespread support from the community; even businesses unable to field a team contributed through donations. This community-wide effort ensures the funding of new initiatives supporting various good causes in the area and will take place again in December of this year.

Many Rotary sports fans connect through Rotary Fellowships. Find out more.

— November 2025