“Sport Positive Awards 2026,” an International Award in Collaboration with the UN and IOC

Global Bridge Plus Selected for the Sport Positive Awards 2026 Community Initiative Shortlist for the Second Consecutive Year

Global Bridge Plus (GB+), a general incorporated association, has been selected for the Community Initiative shortlist of the Sport Positive Awards 2026, an international award held in collaboration with the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This marks the second consecutive year that GB+ has been selected for the shortlist.

GB+ is also the only Japanese sports organization selected for the shortlist in the Community Initiative category this year.

Grassroots International Exchange Through Soccer Recognized on the Global Stage

The Sport Positive Awards is an international award that recognizes outstanding initiatives creating positive social and environmental impact through sport.

The awards are held as part of the Sport Positive Summit, which works in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The awards recognize clubs, leagues, governing bodies, companies, NGOs, and other organizations around the world working to promote sustainability and positive social impact through sport.

We are deeply honored that GB+’s grassroots activities, which connect children from Southeast Asia and Japan through soccer, have once again been recognized on this international stage.

The shortlist includes leading sports organizations from around the world, including top clubs from the Premier League and organizations associated with the NBA.

Two Initiatives Recognized

This year's selection recognized two ongoing GB+ projects in particular.

・Road to Japan

Road to Japan is an international exchange program that brings U-12 children from Myanmar to Japan. In addition to participating in international tournaments, the children engage in cultural exchange with Japanese children and experience homestays, creating opportunities to learn about each other's cultures and values.

Through this program, soccer is used not only as a sport to compete in, but also as a tool for making friends across borders, creating meaningful encounters that can connect children to their futures.

・Global Bridge Asia Challenge Festival

In January 2026, GB+ organized its first independently hosted international exchange tournament in Thailand.

The Global Bridge Asia Challenge Festival was designed as a new model for international exchange, bringing together children from Japan and ASEAN countries in mixed teams regardless of nationality. By living, practicing, and competing together, the children experienced diversity firsthand and developed friendships across borders.

Recognized for Creating Connections That Continue Beyond Individual Events

We believe this year's recognition reflects not only the value of each individual project, but also the way connections created through Road to Japan have developed into further opportunities for international exchange, including the ASEAN Junior Soccer Challenge Festival.

GB+ is working to expand its activities from the U-12 and U-13 age groups to U-14 in the future.

We are also working to develop new opportunities that connect professional soccer club academies in Japan with children across ASEAN countries.

Our goal is to build a sustainable international exchange platform where children can continue to meet, learn, and grow together as they get older, rather than creating opportunities that happen only once.

To Everyone Who Supports Us

This recognition would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of our partner companies, donors, supporters, volunteers, and the many people and organizations in Japan and around the world who share the vision of GB+.

We sincerely thank everyone who has supported our activities.

Our mission is:

“Connecting children around the world through soccer.”

We believe that regardless of differences in nationality, culture, language, or circumstances, children can become friends when they share the experience of playing soccer.

We will continue to expand the circle of international exchange connecting Japan and ASEAN countries.

Being selected for the shortlist is not the finish line for us. It is a new beginning.

Inspired by this recognition from around the world, we will continue creating meaningful encounters that can shape the futures of individual children and strive to make the world a more peaceful and welcoming place through the power of soccer.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support and encouragement for Global Bridge Plus.

Sport Positive Awards 2026 Shortlist

https://awards.sportpositivesummit.com/shortlist-2026/

GB+ is the only Japanese sports organization selected for the Community Initiative shortlist.