NEWS

10 May 2023

NOCs of Europe head to Paris for 43rd EOC Seminar

Categories: EOC · Piotr Nurowski Winter

10 May 2023

The 43rd European Olympic Committees (EOC) Seminar will be held in Paris on 12 and 13 May with National Olympic Committees (NOC) from across Europe flocking to the French capital.

Held at the Pullman Montparnasse Hotel ahead of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024, the European NOCs will attend the meetings which cover numerous important topics from across the Olympic Movement.

EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi said: “EOC Seminars are always important dates in the calendar and a time when we gather all the NOCs of Europe together to discuss the future of not just the Olympic Movement, but sport as a whole on our continent.

“The 42nd Seminar in Olympia last September helped stimulate plenty of debate and discussion, which has in turn led to action, and we know that the two days spent in Paris will encourage the same response this week. There is a large number of interesting and important topics that we will focus on.

“I would like to thank the French NOC for hosting us this week and for the warm hospitality that I know all our guests will enjoy. I must also thank all everyone in attendance, especially the delegates who will lend us their expertise in presentations and on panels.”

Following the announcement of the first EOC Refugee Team in collaboration with the Olympic Refuge Foundation, there will be presentations and a detailed panel discussion on the role that European NOCs and sport as a whole can play in helping refugees integrate into their new communities.

As well as an update on EOC Strategic Agenda 2030, there will be presentations from members of the EOC’s Sustainability and Active Society Commission and of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission – both of which are key pillars of the Strategic Agenda.

The Organising Committees for the European Games 2023, Summer European Youth Olympic Festival 2023, Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026 will provide the latest news in regard to their planning and preparation, while representatives from the International Olympic Committee and Association of National Olympic Committees will also give presentations.

During Day One on 12 May, the 48 NOCs will vote for the winner of the Winter Piotr Nurowski Prize 2023, which will be announced at the Gala Dinner at the Pavilion Royal later that evening.

The nominees in alphabetical order are: Ms Mia Brookes (GBR) Snowboarding, Mr Erik Canovi (ITA) Ski Mountaineering, Ms Nela Lopusanova (SVK) Ice Hockey, Ms Oleksandra Merkushyna (UKR) Biathlon and Ms Nina Pinzarrone (BEL) Figure Skating.