Olympic Ambassador of Soacha

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office of Communications

The Institution continues to consolidate its international projection through the participation of its Knowledge and Learning Managers in high-level academic settings. On this occasion, María Luisa Zambrano Rojas, Knowledge and Learning Manager of the Sports Science program at the Soacha Extension, represented Colombia and the Institution as a Young Olympic Ambassador at the 66th International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors, held from June 6 to 18, 2026 in Olympia, Greece, considered the cradle of Olympism and one of the most important spaces for the training of leaders of the international Olympic movement.

The meeting, organized by the International Olympic Academy, in conjunction with the Colombian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee (Olympics), brought together representatives from more than 80 countries to promote the exchange of experiences, strengthen cooperation networks and reflect on sport as a tool for social transformation, peacebuilding and human development.

For two weeks, the participants took part in conferences, workshops and academic, cultural and sporting activities focused on strengthening values such as integrity, respect, inclusion, leadership and Olympic education, sharing experiences with delegates from different cultures and contexts around the world.

For María Luisa Zambrano, this experience represented a unique opportunity to showcase the work carried out by the University and demonstrate how knowledge generated in local areas can engage with initiatives of global scope. “Representing Colombia and the University of Cundinamarca in the birthplace of Olympism is an honor and a great responsibility. This setting allowed me to share experiences with representatives from more than 80 countries, strengthen international cooperation networks, and understand how sport can become an engine for social transformation and human development,” said the Knowledge and Learning Manager.

In addition to representing the University, María Luisa participated on behalf of the Colombian Olympic Academy and as a member of the Tech365 Technology Collective of the International Olympic Committee, where she leads a technological innovation project applied to sports, an initiative that seeks to strengthen sports development through the use of digital tools and innovative solutions.

The session featured the participation of prominent Olympic athletes, academics, researchers, and representatives of the International Olympic Movement, who shared their experiences and reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing sport in the global context.

As part of the academic agenda, María Luisa also participated in the competition organized by the International Association of Olympic Historians, presenting a poster on the history of the pioneers of the Olympic movement in Colombia, a work that received recognition as the best national and cultural representation of the event.

For the Management Company, this recognition demonstrates that research, innovation and knowledge built from the regions can generate impact and recognition in international scenarios.

This participation also strengthens the principle of translocality promoted by the Transmodern Digital Educational Model (MEDIT), by fostering the exchange of knowledge between territories and global dynamics, favoring the construction of collaborative solutions to contemporary challenges.

The knowledge acquired during this experience will be incorporated into the academic, research and social outreach processes of the Sports Science program, strengthening the training of Opportunity Creators and expanding the possibilities of international cooperation.

With this outstanding participation, the University of Cundinamarca reaffirms its commitment to internationalization, academic excellence, and the training of leaders capable of transforming territories through sport, innovation, and knowledge, demonstrating that initiatives originating from the region have the capacity to generate impact and recognition on the world stage.

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