The Executive Committee (ExCo) of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) met online yesterday for the second time of 2021, with discussions centring on preparations for the 3rd edition of the European Games in 2023 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

EOC Acting President Niels Nygaard gave the Members a progress report about the many activities he has been carrying out over the past month, including his contribution to the Closing Session of the 16th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Sport this morning, when he passionately stressed the importance of the European Sport Model.

The ExCo meeting also featured an update on the 50th EOC General Assembly, scheduled to take place from 18-19 April in Athens. The ExCo agreed to continue closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation to assess the feasibility of holding the Assembly in person.

The 50th General Assembly is an important one for the EOC, as it will see the election of a President, Executive Committee and an Ethics Committee, among other measures. EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi confirmed that the General Assembly will appoint a three-person Ethics Commission at its next meeting to act as the internal judiciary body that will hear any disciplinary complaints that may arise.

Coordination Commission Chair for the 3rd European Games Hasan Arat highlighted the steady progress being made on a number of fronts for the 2023 Games, in particular the sports programme, which now features eight sports, all of which have been added since December 2020. Boxing and shooting were the latest sports to be included, joining badminton, beach handball, canoe, karate, modern pentathlon and taekwondo. More sports are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Arat added that a number of constructive meetings have taken place virtually with a range of potential partners and sponsors, which bodes well for the third edition of the European Games and beyond.

EOC ExCo member Djordje Visacki delivered an update on the development of Strategic Agenda 2030, which aims to set out a clear vision for the EOC over the next decade with regard to all matters facing European NOCs, including sports events, good governance, anti-doping efforts and other issues. This included discussions with third parties being considered to provide services for the implementation of the project.

A report on the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was provided by IOC Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations James Macleod and IOC Head of NOC Games Services Toshio Tsurunaga, who ran through the recently published Playbook for athletes and officials.

The principles contained in the Playbook are aimed at ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the Games, with clearly defined measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Macleod stressed that the Playbook was an organic document that will continue to develop in the lead-up to the Games, scheduled for 23 July-08 August, based on the latest information available.