45th EOC SEMINAR AND OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY FORUM CONCLUDES AFTER INSPIRING INTERACTION AND INSIGHTS IN MALTA

The 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum concluded in St. Paul’s Bay, Malta, after two successful days of discussions and the exchange of new ideas on key topics through workshops in small groups.

A more interactive format was introduced for this year’s EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum, with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) representatives divided into five groups and rotating among five workshops.

The workshops focused on key strategic priorities outlined in the EOC Strategic Agenda 2030, including: how to enhance operations through AI; giving athletes a voice while protecting and supporting their integrity, and promoting athlete career transition; athlete development and participation in EOC events; building a better and healthier world through sport; and strengthening outreach and brand identity.

In addition to the workshops, the first day of the 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum featured a presentation and panel discussion on the fundamental principles of good governance and potential areas for improvement.

EOC President Spyros Capralos reflected on the success of the event. 
“We are pleased that this year’s format made the event more interactive and insightful,” President Capralos said.
“Your contributions to our discussions over the last two days have made this edition a great success, and helped us all to learn and take home many new ideas and perspectives. 
“From enhancing NOC operations through the use of AI to strengthening outreach and brand identity, we have addressed some of the most important topics that affect us all.
“If I had to come to one conclusion after these two days, that would be that sport is part of the solution for many of our key challenges and our role is to pass this message.”

EOC Secretary General Carlo Mornati thanked the IOC and Olympic Solidarity for their support, the NOC of Malta President Julian Pace Bonello, Secretary General Kevin Azzopardi and their team for the excellent organisation of the event, the facilitators, speakers and coordinators for running the workshops, and the NOCs for their active contributions.
Secretary General Mornati said: “The success of the 45th EOC Seminar has been due to the excellent contributions from all involved, especially the workshop facilitators and the other speakers involved in each of the six different topics.
“The new format we utilised this year has allowed full interaction from NOCs, and the contributions from representatives of all NOCs have been vital in encouraging rich and interesting discussions.
“In addition to thanking the IOC and Olympic Solidarity and the NOC of Malta, I want to thank all NOCs, who embraced the new format and allowed it to flourish.”

IOC Olympic Solidarity Associate Director Olivier Niamkey expressed his satisfaction at the outcomes of the 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum.
“There is always something to learn, and this was really the case here,” Niamkey said.
“In every single workshop I learned something, and I hope it was the same for you. Now it is about implementation.”

Facilitators for each of the workshops also reflected on the positive conversations and insights provided by NOCs over the last two days.
EOC EU Office Director Folker Hellmund stressed the importance of good governance for maintaining strong relationships with athletes and governments, while increasing expertise to enable NOCs to more effectively use AI was highlighted as crucial by EOC Digital, Technology and AI Commission member Emilia Ottela.

Ensuring robust safeguarding policies and procedures are in place to protect athletes was emphasised by EOC Ethics Commission member Markus Pfisterer as he looked back on the discussions, and EOC Sports Director Peter Brull summarised NOCs’ reflections on the importance of EOC events for athlete development and participation.

Annamarie Phelps, EOC ExCom member and Chair of the EOC Sustainability & Active Society Commission, outlined the importance of viewing sustainability as a shared responsibility for everyone to act on together.

The final workshop was themed on digital marketing and communications, and EOC ExCom member and EOC Communication Commission Chair Danka Hrbeková highlighted the importance of digital communication and digital presence for reaching young people.

At the end of the event, President Capralos also announced that the 46th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum will take place in Split, Croatia on 9 & 10 October 2026.