World Sport For All Appoints Leonardo Cunha as Deputy Secretary General

World Sport For All has appointed Leonardo Cunha as its Deputy Secretary General, bringing to the organisation extensive international experience in sports management, strategic planning, institutional cooperation and social entrepreneurship.

Based in Praia, Cabo Verde, Cunha has built a multidisciplinary career spanning Olympic organisations, sports federations, development initiatives and higher education. His appointment reinforces World Sport For All’s commitment to strengthening its organisational capacity, supporting international cooperation and advancing opportunities for participation in sport.

Cunha’s professional background includes more than a decade of service with the Cabo Verdean Olympic Committee, where he has held executive, advisory and project management responsibilities. He served as Executive Secretary from 2015 to 2019 and as Chef de Mission for Cabo Verde at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. His subsequent work has included advising the Committee’s leadership and managing external projects.

Since 2022, he has served as Executive Director of ACOLOP, the Association of Olympic Committees of Portuguese Official Language, contributing to cooperation within the Portuguese-speaking Olympic community.

His experience also encompasses football development and governance. In Cabo Verde, he has worked on club and stadium licensing processes and managed development programmes within the Cabo Verdean Football Federation. Earlier in his career, he served as a director and Coordinator of the Department of Training and Scientific Development at the Portuguese Kickboxing and Muay Thai Federation.

Alongside his sports administration responsibilities, Cunha has developed a strong focus on social entrepreneurship, capacity building and organisational development.

He serves as Secretary-General of the Social Development Hub and Administrator of WeCare, alongside project management and advisory roles with Sport Evolution Alliance and Sport Social Solutions. He also contributes as a youth mentor to the Boost programme through the RISE Sport for Social Impact Platform.

His academic experience includes teaching sports management, planning and project management, sports marketing and Olympism at universities in Cabo Verde. He holds a master’s degree in Sports Management from Universidade Técnica de Lisboa and an Executive Master in Sport Organisations Management from Universitat de Lleida.

As Deputy Secretary General, Cunha will bring together experience in organisational governance, international partnerships, project development and professional training to support World Sport For All’s continued development.

His appointment is intended to help strengthen the organisation’s work with its international network and support initiatives that connect sport with inclusion, education and community development.