Four National Olympic Academies were recognised for excellence in Olympic Education and heritage at the European Olympic Academy (EOA) Flame Awards 2025, presented during the Gala Dinner of the Seventh Congress of the EOA in Prague on 7 October.
The awards ceremony, held in the historic Tyrš House – a landmark of Czech sport and Olympic heritage – highlighted the vital role of National Olympic Academies in preserving Olympic heritage and promoting Olympic values across Europe.
For the first time, the EOA Flame Awards were selected by a specially established jury, bringing together representatives from the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the International Olympic Academy (IOA), and the EOA Education and Heritage Commissions. The EOC was represented on the jury by José Manuel Araújo, Chair of the EOC Culture and Education Commission and EOC Executive Committee member, reflecting the strong collaboration between the EOC and EOA as part of the wider European Olympic family.
“The EOA Flame Awards demonstrate the incredible creativity and dedication of National Olympic Academies across Europe in bringing Olympic values to life,” said Araújo.
“The EOC is proud to support these initiatives that strengthen Olympic education and preserve our shared heritage. Through collaboration between our organisations, we ensure that the Olympic spirit continues to inspire future generations throughout Europe.”
In the Olympic Heritage category, two projects received first place: the Czech Olympic Academy for its Olympic Multimedia Library ŠUPČÍK, a digital archive preserving Czech Olympic visual memory, and the National Olympic Academy of Ukraine for its publication Memorabilia in Olympic Culture and Heritage, exploring the artistic and historical dimensions of Olympic memorabilia.
Two initiatives also shared first place in the Olympic Education category: the Serbian Olympic Academy for its nationwide school programme Promotion of Olympic Values: Respect, Friendship and Excellence, and the German Olympic Academy, together with the German Sports Youth and the French NOC, for the German-French Olympic Youth Camp Paris 2024, which brought young participants together during the Olympic Games to connect with the spirit of Olympism through intercultural exchange.
The Gala Dinner also marked the presentation of The Idealist, a new publication by the Czech Olympic Academy celebrating the cultural legacy of Czech Olympism. The EOA congratulated the Czech NOC, represented by President Jiří Kejval, and the Czech Olympic Academy, under President Alexandr Kliment, for their hospitality in hosting the congress and providing an inspiring setting for the recognition of Olympic excellence across Europe.
