The mission of the IJO is to support sports activities, to channel support from other institutions such as SEDESOL, to build infrastructure, and to provide support in the form of uniforms and trophies, among other things. The Institute organizes several sports events.

The IJO has no budgetary resources of its own, which considerably weakens its ability to act. Indeed, the support programs that operate are not impartial, as they are influenced by political control strategies. Some young people interviewed said they had been turned away due to such considerations, or did not want to get involved in such institutional dynamics.