Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
We are nearing the end of a year which will live long in our memories, as the Olympic Games made a triumphant return to Europe after more than a decade away.
We will remember the warm hospitality of our hosts in Paris, the iconic venues filled to capacity with cheering fans and the successes of our European athletes, as a new era for the Olympic Games began.
The EOC was delighted to see Europe’s athletes top the continental standings once again, and especially pleased that 59 gold medallists from the European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 also earned medals in Paris.
I am pleased to say that we have made excellent progress this year with regard to 2027 European Games. The EOC Executive Committee was impressed by Istanbul’s plans and unanimously approved its candidature back in March. The EOC then signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Turkish Olympic Committee in May to advance plans, before the NOCs of Europe confirmed Istanbul as the host at the 53rd EOC General Assembly (GA) in Bucharest, Romania in June.
Istanbul 2027 will build on the impressive legacy of Kraków-Małopolska 2023, which used a model of existing and temporary venues to deliver a financially successful event. It was not only cost-effective, but also a huge success in providing more Olympic qualifying opportunities for Europe’s best athletes.
Istanbul is a city with sport in its DNA. The 2027 European Games will require no additional construction beyond existing or temporary venues there too. Thanks to our strong working relationship with all the relevant stakeholders in Türkiye, we have already made great progress.
Reflecting more generally on 2024, there is much for us to celebrate collectively as a European family.
The EOC is firmly on track in our implementation of Strategic Agenda 2030. The appointment of Dr Jan Lehmann as our first-ever CEO in May has had a hugely positive impact on all areas of the EOC’s operations. His fresh perspective from his extensive experience in the European sports industry is helping transform the EOC into a more commercially effective and attractive organisation.
The EOC is proud to have enhanced our support to athletes and NOCs throughout 2024.
At the GA in Bucharest, we celebrated the first winners of the Janez Kocijančič Award for the best male and female athletes at the European Games, named in honour of our former President and his distinguished contribution to the Olympic Movement. Italian trap shooting star Jessica Rossi and Georgian judoka Lasha Bekauri were richly deserved winners, as chosen by the EOC Athletes’ Commission.
Finland’s Nordic combined athlete Minja Korhonen became the latest winner of the Winter Piotr Nurowski Prizeand and was joined in Bucharest by her fellow four finalists. They will each receive a training scholarship to support their development.
The EOC remains committed to welcoming ideas and feedback from our NOCs, and we deeply appreciate your active contributions to the success of the GA and the 44th EOC Seminar in Budva. Montenegro. The discussions on Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and gender equality will prove pivotal to future-proofing the Olympic Movement in Europe.
It is inspiring to witness the enthusiasm with which so many NOCs are participating in continental-wide projects led by the EOC, particularly the remarkable initiatives driven by our EU Office in Brussels.
The EOC EU Office continues to strengthen our already solid relationship with European institutions to ensure the EOC plays a leading role in shaping a bright sporting future for Europe. This was evident by the recent renewal of the Agreement of Cooperation with the European Commission in Paris. UEFA is the only other organisation to have entered an agreement of this kind with the Commission, and it will cement the EOC’s positioning, particularly with such a busy and exciting year ahead.
Just last week, it was a pleasure to be in Rome for the Flame of Peace Lighting Ceremony for the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Bakuriani 2025. There are now less than 50 days until its Opening Ceremony and six months until the Summer EYOF Skopje 2025.
We are proud that the EYOF continues to serve as a catalyst for young European athletes to enjoy successful careers in sport. EYOF has helped them to embrace the Olympic values at an early stage of their lives, with the help of our European Youth Olympic Ambassadors programme.
Adding to a busy year ahead, the Games of the Small States of Europe will be held in Andorra, providing a unique opportunity for NOCs from 10 of our smaller countries to compete for medals and further the development of their athletes.
The EOC is grateful to all stakeholders who are working extremely hard to organise these events. I know from experience the challenges and complexities that are associated with organising events on this scale, but we are pleased with the preparations and looking forward to seeing our athletes shine.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to all the EOC Executive Committee members, Commission members and administrative teams in Rome and Brussels, all of our NOCs and your staff for the valuable contributions all have made to the Olympic Movement. And my thanks go of course to all our athletes, as they inspire the next generations.
On a personal level, it has been another fulfilling year serving the EOC as President. I am pleased with the progress we have made together, and I am confident that European sport has a bright future.
I hope you can enjoy some rest and precious time with your families over the festive period as we reflect on huge successes in 2024 and look forward to a very exciting 2025!
With EurOlympic regards for a successful new year,
President Spyros Capralos
