This article explores the concepts of social and cultural capital as analytical tools for investigating the capacity of sport-based intervention programs to contribute to the personal, social and professional development of disadvantaged young people. It draws on survey data (n=129) and qualitative interviews (n=53) with participants of the Vencer program in Rio de Janeiro to examine how the program impacts on participants’ personal and Skill Development and social connectedness. Surveys (n=28) and interviews (n=36) with stakeholders provide additional perspectives on the program’s impact on participants. It is argued that the program’s contribution to the development of social and cultural capital is closely associated with its ability to develop linkages with multiple institutional agents and the provision of a facilitating institutional context which enables young people to get to know one another and broaden their social horizons.
