Eighth EYOA programme launched to provide unique opportunities for young people at 2025 EYOFs

The eighth edition of the European Youth Olympic Ambassador (EYOA) programme is underway, providing more young people with opportunities to inspire athletes at the next year’s European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) in Bakuriani and Skopje.

Overseen by the European Olympic Committees’ (EOC) Culture and Education Commission and led by its member Nataša Janković, the EYOA aims to encourage athletes, all aged 14-18, competing at the EYOF to embrace the Olympic values. It provides a unique chance for ambassadors nominated by their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to learn about different cultures, make friends and gain experience from being part of a multi-sport event.

There are 28 ambassadors who have been selected for the latest edition of the EYOA programme, of whom 20 will organise engaging and innovative educational activities for athletes at both the Winter EYOF Bakuriani 2025 and the Summer EYOF Skopje 2025. A further two ambassadors will work exclusively on Bakuriani 2025, and six on Skopje 2025.

They were introduced to the EYOA programme at a kick-off webinar on 26 November, where EOC President Spyros Capralos congratulated them on being named as ambassadors and thanked them for their commitment to spreading the Olympic values.

President Capralos said: “It is a fantastic achievement to have been nominated by your National Olympic Committee to become an Ambassador and to be selected for this Programme. It is something you should be proud of.

“The EYOA is one of the EOC’s most important initiatives in promoting the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, and has had a lasting impact on ambassadors and young athletes competing at previous editions of the EYOF.

“I am sure we will see this again in Bakuriani, and you will discover more about the joy and the power of the Olympic Movement. As Ambassadors, you will learn a lot in the coming months, and there will be a lot of fun along the way.”

The kick-off webinar also featured welcome speech by Jean-Michel Brun, Chair of the EOC Culture and Education Commission and introductions from EYOA programme leader Nataša Janković and seven alumni ambassadors from previous editions who will serve as mentors. The Education Plan was presented by Clea Papaellina, Vice Chair of the Commission and Head of Education of the EYOA programme who gave also the tasks for the next webinar. In this first webinar Prof. Dr. Maria Bulatova gave an enlightening lecture introducing the ambassadors to the Olympic Values.

Further webinars will be arranged in the lead-up to Bakuriani 2025 as the ambassadors undergo further training and develop a values-based education programme for athletes.

Ambassadors

Bakuriani 2025 and Skopje 2025

Michal Cmelik (Slovakia)

Ilayda Yilmaz (Türkiye)

Mathilde Løvschall Mikkelsen (Denmark)

Karolina Pietraszek (Poland)

Elisavet Voulgari (Greece)

Ludvig Fjällström (Sweden)

Zarja Tavčar (Slovenia)

Henning Kunkel (Germany)

Adrian Mateo Orcajada (Spain)

Dominic Taylor (Great Britain)