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Johann Koss    

Founder of Right To Play, FairSport & Fire A; Former Olympic Speedskater

Johann Koss was an Olympic speed skater and is considered to be one of the greatest winter Olympians of all time. In 1994, he made world headlines when he won three gold medals in the Lillehammer Olympic Games in his home country of Norway, adding to his one gold and one silver medal from the Albertville Olympic Games two years prior. He won 3 world championship and set 11 World records speedskating.

Koss is currently the CEO and founder of Fire A, a private investment firm and consultancy on Environment, Social, and Governance and sustainable businesses. He is an internationally recognized social entrepreneur who has been widely acknowledged for his work in promoting the use of sport and play as a tool for positive childhood development. He founded Right To Play in 2000, dedicating himself to growing it into an influential international non-government organization and a leader in the Sport for Development and Peace movement.

Koss also founded FairSport, Circmar, and Masterment, and he has more than 15 year investment experience working with several Private Equity, Venture and Hedge Fund as an independent board member, investor, advisor and corporate builder. Right To Play operates in more than 20 countries reaching over two million children each week, and as of 2022 had an annual budget of $58million. The organization is supported by 650 staff worldwide and 60,000 volunteer Coaches.

Koss has an undergraduate medical degree from the University of Queensland, and an Executive MBA from the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

News


Johann Olav Koss On Gender Inequality & The Role Of Sports
Johann Olav Koss On Gender Inequality & The Role Of Sports June 15, 2011 Johann Olav Koss explains why trying to challenge gender inequality through sport ...
Olympic Athletes and the Power to Give Back | Johann Koss
Sport and play are our instincts and a human need. Events like the Olympics show us sport's ability to transcend our differences and unite us -- both in victory ...
World Recognizes a New Day for Play | Johann Koss
When I think about the power of sport and play to transform children's lives and change our world, I think about kids like Daphine. At 15 years old, if you ask ...
Right to Play leader Johann Olav Koss honored in DC
Johann Olav Koss says some athletes are unaware of the impact of their contributions.

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