The Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) met today in Vienna to discuss a range of topics ahead of the 40th EOC Seminar being held in the Austrian capital on 18-19 May.
The meeting began with the official acceptance of the resignation from the ExCo of Bill Sweeney, who has taken up a new role as chief executive of the Rugby Football Union. Sweeney was CEO of the British Olympic Association (BOA) for five and a half years and a member of the EOC ExCo since November 2017.
“We thank Bill for his excellent contribution to British and European sport over the years,” said EOC President Janez Kocijančič, “and we wish him the very best in his new position with the Rugby Football Union. His vast experience and passion for all sports will be of great value to the RFU.”
The ExCo unanimously approved Yury Yuryev, Deputy Secretary General of the Russian Olympic Committee and Chief of the International Relations Department, as its newest Member, effective 17 May. Yuryev narrowly missed out on being elected to the ExCo during the last elections in November 2017, having lost a second ballot to Peter Mennel after a tie in the first round.
In keeping with the EOC’s commitment to media freedom and policy of transparency, it was decided that a dedicated point of contact for journalists will be put in place for all EOC sports events, beginning with the Games of the Small States of Europe Montenegro 2019 and followed by the European Games Minsk 2019 and EYOF Baku 2019. A telephone number and email address will be set up for this purpose and communicated in advance of the events.
The ExCo discussed the European Model of Sport, a topic that will be debated in greater detail during a panel session on Day 1 of the Seminar.
Updates on preparations for the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019, the 15th Summer European Youth Olympic Festival Baku 2019 and the Games of the Small States of Europe Montenegro 2019 were provided, as was the name of the new host for the 2021 Summer EYOF, which will be officially announced on Saturday during the Seminar.
A discussion on the 2023 European Games bid process was also held, with the ExCo hearing from President Kocijančič that an extraordinary General Assembly will be held in Minsk ahead of the Opening Ceremony for the European Games where a vote will be held to decide the Host City for the 2023 edition. The names of the cities interested in hosting the 3rd edition of Europe’s premier multi-sports event will be unveiled following the bid deadline of 31 May.
The ExCo received reports from International Olympic Committee (IOC) Director of the NOC Relations Department and Olympic Solidarity James Macleod and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) from ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg, who also provided an update on the 1st World Beach Games scheduled for 10-15 October in San Diego, California.
