The 44th European Olympic Committees (EOC) Seminar in Budva, Montenegro saw delegates look back on the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sustainability and Gender Equality in sport.
European National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and other stakeholders gathered for the Seminar, which is focused on providing a platform for discussions and debates on the key topics impacting the Olympic Movement.
EOC President Spyros Capralos praised the engagement of the NOCs in discussions surrounding both AI and Sustainability and heralded the unity of the European Olympic Movement to move forward together in these areas.
President Capralos also thanked the Montenegrin NOC President Dusan Simonović and his team for their hospitality in Budva, and Mr Dragoslav Šćekić, Minister of Sports and Youth, Ms Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation and Mr Novica Vuković, Minister of Finance for their attendance.
President Capralos said: “Over the past two days of reports, panels and workshops, we have seen the European Olympic Family come together to discuss two of the most important and interesting topics facing us today – AI and Sustainability.
“It has been pleasing to see the delegates engaged in discussions about how AI can be utilised for the benefit of athletes and fans, and how it can help NOCs to streamline their work on a day-to-day basis. My belief in the need to embrace AI and the opportunities it can bring us has only deepened.
“The sustainability section and workshops were led expertly by Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission Chair Ms Annamarie Phelps and Sustainability, and Active Society Commission Member Ms Rikke Ronholt Albertsen, further highlighting how these two areas are intertwined and the importance of collaboration in this area. We will see the benefits of this workshop in the next year.
Following the launch of the Olympic AI Agenda in April, the EOC is committed to placing itself at the forefront of AI in the Olympic Movement and sessions at the Seminar were led by experts from the IOC, Deloitte and Alibaba. The focus of the sessions was on the extent to which AI can support NOCs activities, and how NOCs can begin their journey with AI.
In addition to the presentations by the EOC Commissions on sustainability and gender equality, Dr Holger Preuss of the IOC Legacy and Sustainability Commission explained the IOC’s approach, and International Biathlon Union (IBU) Sustainability Ambassador and biathlete Mr Jacques Jefferies detailed the ways in which the IBU has implemented initiatives in this area.
The Seminar also heard from Paris 2024 Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet via video, and from the Organising Committees of the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025 and Summer European Youth Olympic Festival Skopje 2025.
