The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Executive Committee (ExCo) focused on the challenges faced and the successes enjoyed as they met on 5^th October in Istanbul ahead of the organisation’s 52^nd General Assembly (GA).

Led by President Spyros Capralos, the ExCo reflected on 2023, a year which saw the third edition of the European Games held in Krakow and the Malopolska region of Poland, a winter and a summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Italy and Slovenia respectively and the Games of the Small States of Europe in Malta.

President Capralos thanked the Turkish Olympic Committee for their warm welcome to Türkiye for the GA and noted the strength of the European Olympic Family, with more than 50 National Olympic Committee and International/European Federation Presidents in attendance. All 50 European NOCs were invited to Istanbul where International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will open the second day.

Secretary General Rafaelle Pagnozzi focused on the constitutional changes made by the EOC to ensure strong and good governance moving forward, stressing the importance of the hiring of a Chief Executive Officer for the organisation in 2024. It was also emphasised by treasurer Peter Mennel that the European Games were a financial success and have left the EOC in a strong position for 2024, when no events will be hosted.

The Chairs of each of the EOC Commissions detailed key parts of their GA reports and Chair of the EYOF Commission Líney Halldórsdóttir emphasised the enthusiasm that both the Georgian and North Macedonian NOCs are showing ahead of hosting the 2025 winter and summer EYOFs as their preparations begin, while EOC EU Office Head Folker Hellmund revealed that the number of projects they have funded has risen in 2023.

ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg provided an update on the renumeration process for the cancelled ANOC Beach Games, while IOC Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365 James Macleod gave details on the latest preparations for both the IOC Session and for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.