The EOC has today signed the Host City Contract for the 2027 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.
The agreement was signed by EOC President Spyros Capralos, EOC Secretary General Carlo Mornati, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Regional Government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga, the Mayor of Lignano Sabbiadoro Laura Giorgi and the Local Organising Committee Executive President Giorgio Brandolin at the magnificent Palace of the Regional Council in Trieste.
The EOC Executive Committee Member and Chair of the EYOF Commission Liney Rut Halldórsdóttir was also in attendance.
The signing of the Host City Contract marks an important step in the preparations for another successful EYOF in 2027.
Lignano Sabbiadoro will become the first host to have staged the Summer EYOF twice, with the 2027 edition building on the strong legacy of the 2005 Summer EYOF. The wider Friuli-Venezia Giulia region additionally hosted the Winter EYOF in 2023.
Lignano Sabbiadoro 2027 will follow on from Skopje 2025, which will make North Macedonia the 17th different country to have hosted the Summer EYOF, while hosts have already been secured for the 2029 edition in Flanders, Belgium and 2031 in Liepaja, Latvia.
With the full support of all stakeholders behind the 2027 Summer EYOF, EOC President Spyros Capralos expressed his excitement to return to Lignano Sabbiadoro.
President Capralos said: “Today’s signing of the Host City Contract is a statement of our shared ambition and commitment.
“The EYOF is about so much more than winning medals. It is about the transmission of the Olympic Values during a period of growth, which is so important to the development of young people. The European Young Olympic Ambassador programme will once again play a big part in this.
“We are grateful to have found partners who share our belief in the power of Olympism and the importance of inspiring young people through sport.”
President of the Regional Government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga said: “We are thrilled to be able to host the Summer edition of the EYOF again in 2027 after 22 years, in a city like Lignano that has hosted young athletes from all over the world both for international events and for training and educational courses.”
CONI President Giovanni Malagò added: “CONI is again delighted to welcome the EOC and Europe’s best young athletes to Italy for the 2027 Summer EYOF.
“We are grateful for the support of the EOC, the Regional Government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Mayor of Lignano Sabbiadoro and the Organising Committee in preparing for this event, and looking forward to welcoming Europe to Italy.”
Mayor of Lignano Sabbiadoro Laura Giorgi said: “Everyone who attends the EYOF in 2027 will experience something truly extraordinary in Lignano. This event will be unique not only in terms of sport but also in its emotional impact, creating lifelong memories tied to both Lignano and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. I can only express my continued excitement and our commitment to hosting the best possible event.”
Local Organising Committee Executive President Giorgio Brandolin said: “We are excited to work closely with our partners in Lignano, the wider Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and of course the EOC to stage the best possible event in two years. We are committed to providing athletes with state-of-the-art facilities as they take a crucial step in their young careers.”
