2 days of intensive work have come to an end. The 39th EOC/IOC Seminar, which took place in Belgrade on 11-12 May, hosted delegates representing all the 50 NOCs of Europe, as well as some of their International NOCs’ friends.

With the two main multi-sport events ahead – 2019 Minsk European Games and Tokyo 2020 – it represented a very useful opportunity for the European National Olympic Committees to share their experience. Thanks to interactive workshops – organised in collaboration with ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg, IOC Head of NOC Games Services Toshio Tsurunaga and Deputy Director Olympic Solidarity & Project Manager for Europe Pamela Vipond – the NOCs could analyse some case-studies and cooperate in order to find suitable policies for a better management of the Games.

They were also updated by Minsk European Games Organising Committee CEO George Katulin and Coordination Commission Chair Spyros Capralos on progress of preparations for the forthcoming European Games.

“The Seminar is an important moment for sharing our knowledge. We have to make Europe the strongest continent not only in sports but also in wisdom”, EOC President Janez Kocijancic stressed in his welcoming speech.

Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi gave a very thorough report on the EOC Head Office’s activities, especially focusing on its work in view of the European Games, enhanced by the recently appointed Marketing & Communication Agencies – Altius, Octagon and Mitchell –  which will contribute to build a compelling Eurolympic narrative.

Last but not least, the 3rd edition of the winter Piotr Nurowski Best European Young Athlete prize was awarded. The winner is the young French biathlete Camille Bened, who received a money prize of €15,000 in recognition of her sporting accomplishments, including a gold medal at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival last year in Erzurum, Turkey.

The Olympic Movement of Europe will meet again for the 40th EOC Seminar in Durazzo, Albania next May 2019.