Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
It only feels like yesterday that we were in Paris celebrating the triumphant return of the Olympic Games to Europe, yet earlier this week we marked 100 days until the Olympic Winter Games returns to our continent.
Milano Cortina 2026 will build upon the legacy of Paris, offering a magnificent stage for our continent’s stars, and I hope that Europe’s winter sport athletes will once again lead the medal table in Italy.
October was another month rich with activity. It was wonderful to see the EOC represented at the 7th European Olympic Academies Congress in Prague, where our Executive Committee member José Manuel Araújo joined more than 60 delegates from 30 National Olympic Academies. We are proud to support the vital work of the EOA, and I extend heartfelt congratulations to the four National Olympic Academies honoured with the EOA Flame Awards for their outstanding contributions to Olympic education and heritage.
We were also delighted that the EOC could be represented in Baku, where the Azerbaijan NOC celebrated the 10th anniversary of the historic Baku 2015 European Games. Our preparations for Istanbul 2027 and the fourth edition of the European Games continue, and I hope to bring you positive updates in this regard before the end of the year.
I must reflect on the passing of Lambis V. Nikolaou at the age of 89 in my message. Mr Nikolaou was a very important personality of the European Olympic Movement, serving twice on the EOC Executive Committee and as IOC Vice-President. It was an honour to follow in his footsteps as President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee in 2009, five years after he left the post, and on behalf of the entire EOC family, I extended our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
November will be both a busy and significant month for the EOC. We look forward to the 8th European Athletes’ Forum and General Assembly in London, during which the EOC Athletes’ Commission will be elected for the next four-year term. Ensuring the athletes’ voice remains at the heart of our decision-making is essential to our mission.
Following on from the Forum, we will host the European Evening of Sport on 17 November in Brussels. This event highlights our close collaboration with the European Union. We are honoured that IOC President Kirsty Coventry will join us for this special occasion.
Finally, I am pleased to inform you that fruitful discussions are underway with several National Olympic Committees regarding the hosting of future European Games and European Youth Olympic Festivals. This is a testament to the collective strength of European sport and the value of the EOC’s events. We will keep you informed of further developments in this regard.
Thank you for your continued dedication and support.
With Eurolympic regards,
Spyros Capralos
EOC President
