Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
It was a month to remember for the European Olympic family and one that has energised us as we look ahead to an exciting year of sport in our continent.
As always, the gathering of our National Olympic Committees (NOCs) at the 51st EOC General Assembly in Skopje, North Macedonia was thoroughly enjoyable and very productive. Addressing you all for the first time as EOC President was a great honour and I am grateful for your invaluable contributions throughout the meeting.
During the General Assembly, we looked ahead to our key events in the coming months and it is safe to say that we are in a very healthy position, despite all of the challenges of the past few years.
Preparations for our flagship event, the European Games 2023, are going well according to the schedule. This month we reached new milestones. Coordination Commission Chair Hasan Arat is doing a great job and with the announcement of our highly experienced commission members, we are right on track to deliver a magical Games that will set a sustainable blueprint for Europe’s premier multisport event.
Meanwhile, our young stars are getting ready for the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Banská Bystrica, set to commence at the end of July. We wish all of the competing athletes and their teams the best of luck. The EYOFs continue to be the foundation for Europe’s future sporting success, and I pleased that next year’s hosts of Maribor (summer) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (winter) are way ahead of schedule!
Off the field of play, June featured a series of key dates in the Olympic calendar. On 23 June NOCs across Europe celebrated Olympic Day. This year’s theme of Together, for a Peaceful World is one that we all felt very closely to our hearts as the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending. It was encouraging to see NOCs remain resolute in their active support for the Ukrainian Olympic Community, and we will make sure to give their young athletes a special reception at the EYOF in Slovakia.
The EOC also played a key role in the European Evening of Sport, and my thanks goes to our EU Office for organising such an important event. I also had the honour of addressing the EU Sport Forum in Lille, and joining our continent’s athlete representatives for the European Athletes’ Forum.
During these meetings, we covered a wide range of pressing topics, including the war in Ukraine, Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the European Model of Sport, safeguarding athletes, and the role of sport in climate change. We must now carry forward these positive discussions to everything we do, particularly as we look to finalise the EOC Strategic Agenda 2030.
Thank you as always for your commitment to the European Olympic Movement. Keep up the good work and see you in Banská Bystrica.
With best EurOlympic greetings,
Spyros Capralos
