The first day of the 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum in St Paul’s Bay, Malta began with engaging discussions on Good Governance and Management, before a series of interactive group workshops for Europe’s National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
NOC of Malta President Julian Pace Bonello welcomed all participants to the country for two days of discussions and knowledge exchange on important topics impacting the Olympic Movement and European sport.
EOC President Spyros Capralos and the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef delivered opening addresses to the NOCs.
President Capralos highlighted the revised format for this year’s EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum aimed at facilitating more conversations between NOCs.
“The EOC Seminar has always been a special moment for our Family: a chance to step away from the formalities of the General Assembly and engage in constructive dialogue,” President Capralos said.
“This year, in conjunction with our partners at the IOC, we have gone one step further by introducing a new format, designed to be more interactive and engaging for all participants.
“The aim is simple: to create the right environment for NOCs to interact openly, exchange experiences, and take home practical knowledge that will benefit their daily work.”
Commissioner Micallef reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the European sport model based on the principles of solidarity, openness and fair play, and reflected on the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in safeguarding athletes’ rights.
“The Paris 2024 Olympics set a historic milestone in this respect. They were the first Games fully aligned with the Olympic Agenda 2020, putting athletes at the centre of planning,” Commissioner Micallef stressed.
“I am convinced that the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games will build on this approach, adopting a holistic, sustainable approach involving all stakeholders.
“Sport must be inclusive, it must be forward-looking, and it must be values-driven.”
The 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum features five workshops based on the five key strategic priorities of the EOC Strategic Agenda 2030.
The first discussion on the Basic Principles and Potential Improvements in Good Governance featured insights from four facilitators: IOC Honour Member and former ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti, IOC Associate Director for Institutional and Governance Services at the NOC Relations Department Jerome Poivey, EOC EU Office Director Folker Hellmund and EOC EU Office Policy Officer Elisabeth Strobach.
This was followed by a panel discussion featuring EOC Executive Committee member and NOC of Great Britain Vice-President Annamarie Phelps, NOC of Slovakia Head of International Relations Petra Gantnerova, NOC of Liechtenstein Secretary General Beat Wachter, and NOC of Ireland CEO and Secretary General Peter Sherrard.
In the afternoon, NOCs were split into smaller groups and rotated between five workshops themed on:
- NOCs: Enhancing NOCs operations through AI
- Athletes: Giving athletes a voice, protecting and supporting their integrity (safeguarding, ethics) and promoting athlete career transition,
- EOC events, from grassroots to elite: athlete development and participation in EOC events
- Sustainable development: building a better and healthier world through sport
- Digital marketing and communications: strengthening outreach and brand identity
These group workshops will continue tomorrow, with the format enabling the NOCs to participate in each of the sessions across the two days of the 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum.
