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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER N.187

MESSAGE FROM EOC PRESIDENT JANEZ KOCIJANČIČ

Dear colleagues,

Thank you to all 50 of our European National Olympic Committees for attending the 47th EOC General Assembly in Marbella, Spain in November. I think we can all agree that it was a productive and informative two days of meetings and gave us all an opportunity to ready ourselves for the activities coming next year.

During the Assembly, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and I both spoke about the pressing need to do more to safeguard the European Sports Model, which is the bedrock on which our entire Olympic Movement rests. As President Bach said in Marbella: sport is so much more than business. There is a significant social value that we must use to our advantage.

Sport can and does have a profound positive impact on individuals, communities and society in general. Sport is linked to a reduction in a number of illnesses. It fosters unity between peoples, boosts confidence, teaches teamwork and enhances self-esteem. It

encourages volunteerism. The list of benefits goes on and on.

This is why the Olympic Movement works daily to ensure that sport is open to all, regardless of age, race or background. It is why 90 percent of Olympic revenues are redistributed back into sport and it is why we are all working hard to ensure that continues in the future.

There is no denying that the European Sports Model benefits European society. Unfortunately, the purely market-based model is threatening our entire system, which left to its own devices would result in a reduction in financing for grassroots sports, smaller sports and novice athletes.

I am a firm believer that it is all well and good to discuss the issues facing sport and our organisations, but without taking any action, the talk is meaningless.

So I would like to call on all of you to take concrete steps to protect and promote our European Sports Model and the Olympic values in your countries and across Europe. We will continue to bring this serious issue to the attention of the European Union and other continental authorities. We ask that you do the same in your countries, with your governments.

Every action on your part, no matter how small, will be of benefit to our common European interests.

Best regards,

Janez Kocijančič

EOC President

2018

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EOC

November was a crucial month for the EOC, with all 50 European National Olympic Committees (ENOCs) gathering at our annual General Assembly in Marbella on 9-10 November to discuss relevant topics centred on European sport.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and

EOC President Janez Kocijančič delivered a strong message on the

preservation of the European Sports Model, which is based on

solidarity, inclusivity and volunteering.

The delegates were welcomed to Marbella by Spanish NOC President

and host of the event Alejandro Blanco and Secretary General

Victoria Cabezas. They heard from the organisers of next year’s

European Games in Minsk, Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE)

in Montenegro, and Winter and Summer editions of the European

Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Sarajevo & East Sarajevo and Baku,

respectively.

Other highlights of the gathering included the election of Andrzej Krasnicki (POL) as European Representative for the ANOC Executive Council, while Laura Stigger (AUT) was named the winner of the 8th edition of the Summer Piotr Nurowski Best European Young Athlete prize. She beat a strong field of finalists that also included canoeist Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO) and swimmer Ajna Kesely (HUN), who finished joint second, and tennis player Iga Światek (POL) and track cyclist Jakub Stastny (Czech Republic), who finished joint fourth. In addition, the northern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia was confirmed as the host city of the 2023 Winter EYOF.

Other distinguished personalities from the Olympic Movement were acknowledged for their long-lasting commitment and outstanding contribution to sport in Europe: former EOC Executive Committee (EC) Member and Vice President Alexander Kozlovsky (RUS) was awarded the EOC Order of Merit, along with Prof. Peter Schröcksnadel (AUT), Emmanuel Katsiadakis (GRE), Ellert Schram (ISL), Jean-Louis Margue (LUX), José Vicente Moura (POR), and Jansug Bagrationi (GEO) who received the European Olympic Laurel Award.

On the eve of the 47th General Assembly, the EOC and European

University Sports Association (EUSA) signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU). The agreement was signed in Marbella on 9

November by EOC President Kocijančič and Secretary General

Raffaele Pagnozzi and their EUSA counterparts Adam Roczek and

Matjaž Pečovnik.

The MoU outlines an agreement to strengthen the partnership between the two organisations, with the goal of working together to promote sport and physical activities in Europe, preserve the European Sports Model and implement projects on social responsibility. A special focus will be put on students in higher education, supporting the policy makers and providing relevant knowhow in the development of sport and higher education.

At the end of the EOC General Assembly, an agreement was signed with Polish Olympic Committee President Andrzej Krasnicki and Secretary General Adam Krzesinski, confirming that Warsaw, Poland will be the host city of the 48th EOC General Assembly, which will take place from 25-26 October 2019 on occasion of the NOC’s 100th anniversary.

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The EOC was also represented at the XXIII ANOC General Assembly in

Tokyo from 28-29 November, led by EOC President Kocijančič, Vice

President Niels Nygaard and Secretary General Pagnozzi, who are also

part of the ANOC EC. The European Olympic movement was also

represented in Tokyo by five women: Women and Sport Commission

Member Kseniya Sankovich (BLR), International Projects Manager

Andrea Toth (HUN), International Relations Department Director

Vaida Masalskyte (LTU), Executive Coordinator Kubra Yildirim (TUR),

and Executive Board Member and President of the Olympic Academy

Mariia Bulatova (UKR).

The EOC President was also in Paris, where he took part in the

celebrations of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) 105th Anniversary on 9 December. Representing the Olympic

movement of Europe, Kocijančič was amongst the honourable guests who commemorated 105 years since FIE foundation

at the Grand Palais in the French capital.

COMMISSIONS

The last Commission to meet this year was the Environment and Sport for All Commission, which gathered on the eve of the EOC General Assembly in Marbella. After welcoming addresses by Chair Gian Primo Giardi (SMR) and EOC EC Liaison Member Andrzej Krasnicki (POL), the members discussed a series of issues related to environment protection, sustainable development, as well as the challenges of non-profit Sport in Europe and the growing phenomena of -esports. Finally, they planned their activities for the quadrennium 2018-2021, with a particular focus on the initiatives to be implemented for European Games and EYOFs.

Still in Marbella, all the Chairs of the EOC Commissions and Working Group reported to the General Assembly on the activities carried out so far and their plans for the future.

EUROPEAN GAMES

FLAME LIGHTING CEREMONY - At the General Assembly in Marbella, the EOC and Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) announced the dates of the “Flame of Peace” Torch Relay and the Lighting Ceremony for the European Games, which are scheduled for 21-30 June 2019 in Minsk, Belarus.

The Flame Lighting Ceremony and the start of the Torch Relay will take place at the historical and emblematic monument “Ara Pacis” in Rome on 3 May 2019. The Ara Pacis Augustae (Latin, "Altar of Augustan Peace") is an altar located in the Italian capital dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of Peace. The monument was commissioned by the Roman Senate on 4 July 13 BC to honor the return of Augustus to Rome after three years in Hispania and Gaul. It was consecrated on 30 January 9 BC.

From there the athletes of the Belarusian Climbing and Mountaineering Federation will bring the Flame of Peace to the top of Mont Blanc on 4—7 May 2019. After that the Flame of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 will travel to Belarus by road, passing through several European countries. An official presentation of the Torch Relay symbols, the Flame of Peace and the olive branch, will be held in each country. The Flame of Peace Torch Relay is one of the most inclusive and celebratory elements of the European Games. The aim of the Torch Relay is to promote the values of sport — peace, unity and friendship — through the Flame of Peace.

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MASCOT - The 2nd European Games mascot was unveiled in Minsk, Belarus on 29 November. The mascot is a baby fox named Lesik who wants to make new friends all over the world and teach many lessons along the way. He has a red hat (which represents vigor), white and green shirt (harmony), black shorts (discipline and determination), blue shoes (invincibility of his character), and yellow fur (cheerfulness). These are also the colours of the Paparats Kvetka (fern flower) design on the logo of the European Games in Minsk!

Lesik arrived in Minsk on a mission to make new friends after he heard the story of a legendary flower called the Paparats Kvetka that could make all his dreams come true. Belarus was far away from Lesik’s home, but he decided that if was to find true friendship, he would have to make the journey and find the flower.

He now has many friends and wants to make even more! He invites everyone around the world to visit him in Belarus and to see the Paparats Kvetka in person. And what a better time to do so than in 2019, the year of the European Games Minsk 2019 from 21-30 June!

TICKETS ON SALE - Tickets for Europe’s premier multi-sport event went on sale 1 December through the website www.minsk2019.ticketpro.by

In Belarus, tickets can also be bought at the box office of the official ticket operator TicketPro, and in Europe through official resellers. In the Russian Federation, tickets will go on sale on 15 December 2018 through official ticket agent www.ponominalu.ru

The cost of tickets range between 5 BYN (2 Euros) and 50 BYN (20 Euros). Tickets for the Opening Ceremony range from 150 to 300 BYN (62-123 Euros), depending on the category – standard or VIP. Tickets for the Closing Ceremony cost between 70 and 150 BYN (29-61 Euros).

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies promise a unique experience for ticketholders, who will become participants

themselves and be able to see presentation elements that will not be covered on TV.

In total, there are 381,000 tickets available for the sports competition during the 2nd European Games. Depending on demand, that figure could be expanded to 535,000. There will be 120 sports sessions in total.

Ticket sales are strong, with over 10,000 sold during the first few days alone!

PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF - The Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus in mid-November.

MEGOC CEO George Katulin and UNICEF Representative in Belarus Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar (BAN) signed the MoU on 16 November at the headquarters of the NOC Belarus in Minsk.

The MoU is aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of childhood development that will create great educational and humanitarian legacies for the 2nd European Games. The focus will be on providing children with greater opportunities to experience cultural, artistic, health and leisure activities, thereby helping them to improve their mental and physical abilities and positively shape their personalities.

“It is a very emotional moment,” Dr Sarwar said. “The 2nd European Games, with more than 4,000 athletes coming to Belarus and millions of people following it worldwide, will be a mega event, something that doesn’t happen every day and we’re really excited about UNICEF being a part of it. We’re looking forward to a strong partnership and generating significant legacies for the Games.”

Katulin added: “A similar document was signed during the inaugural European Games in Baku. Therefore, in keeping with tradition, we like to talk about the European Games as a social project for the host country. We see the agreement with the UNICEF Office in Belarus as a really important step in the creation of an atmosphere of inclusivity for all kids in sport. One of the main goals of the Games themselves is education of the younger generation through sports, and UNICEF is a really powerful partner in achieving this.”

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As part of the agreement, a series of joint public events – sports, social, educational and recreational – will be held in the lead up to and during the 2nd European Games in Minsk.

BROADCASTING - Euronews will provide coverage of Minsk’s preparations for the 2nd European Games following the signing of an agreement by MEGOC CEO George Katulin and Euronews’ International Sales Director Kjell Stein.

Since its launch in 1993 in Lyon, France, Euronews has been delivering trusted news and information in a non-partisan and in-depth way to TV audiences and digital users across the world in their language. According to the agreement, Euronews will produce and broadcast a range of video segments about Minsk 2019 and Belarus. In addition, Euronews’ programmes Road to…, Focus, Metropolitans and Postcards will air reports about the country’s travel and tourism industry. A series of reports on Minsk's preparations for Europe’s premier multi-sport event will also be broadcast.

All content will be produced in 10 languages (English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish) and will be broadcast on TV

and digital platforms.

“Euronews has enormous reach, with an audience of more than 400 million homes,” said Katulin. “It’s a huge number of people, and with the help of video clips, news segments and interviews with Belarusian athletes, Euronews will allow people across Europe to discover Belarus as the beautiful country it is.

MINSK CARDS - A special version of the "Minsk Card" for tourists is set to be launched for the European Games. The card will give visitors free or discounted entry to many attractions and sites across the country for a 14-day period. The price is not expected to be more than BYN30 (£11/$14/€12).

STAR AMBASSADORS – Popular Ukrainian singer Ani Lorak and representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the Republic of Belarus Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar (BAN) are the latest Star Ambassadors for the European Games. They will spread the word about premier Europe’s multisport event, joining the varied Minsk 2019 Star Ambassador Team, which is comprised of: Belarusian classical pianist and conductor Rostislav Krimer, four-time Olympic champion and two-time World Champion biathlete Darya Domracheva, famous circus trainers Askold and Edgard Zapashnye, three-time Olympic wrestling champion Aleksandr Medved (BLR), Olympic canoe sprint champion and Belarus Member of Parliament Aliaksandr Bahdanovich (BLR), 2018 European Marathon Champion Olga Mazurenok (BLR) and TV presenter and blogger Anna Bond (BLR).

EUROPEAN YOUTH OLYMPIC FESTIVAL

EYOF 2023 - An important news regarding the biggest European youth multisport event was revealed in Marbella: the host of the 2023 Winter European Youth Olympic Festival is the northern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The bid organisers, along with Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò, presented their project and goals to the General Assembly. Their aim is to use the EYOF to create “a lasting social, economic and sport legacy, and for sustainability to support youth, education and culture through sport and the Olympic values.”

Sarajevo and East Sarajevo 2019 – The first EOC sports event to take place in the new year will be the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in Sarajevo & East Sarajevo from 10-15 February. An overview of the Winter EYOF 2019, providing representatives from 36 European National Olympic

Committees (ENOCs) with useful information ahead of the event, was given at a Chefs de Mission Seminar on 13-15 November in Sarajevo. In total, 46 NOCs have already committed to participating in the biggest winter multi-sport event for youth in Europe, with upwards of 1,500 athletes expected to attend. They will compete in 8 sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating, snowboarding and curling.

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The NOC delegates heard reports from the organisers on a range of operational topics while also being given a tour of the eight venues that will be used for the EYOF, as well as the Athletes’ Village and Medals Plaza. The EYOF concept is unique in that the Athletes’ Village will be combined with the Medals Plaza, setting the stage for a true celebration.

Another thing that was apparent to all who attended the weeklong meetings was how hard-working and committed the local organising team was, including the roughly 100 volunteers who were on hand. It was a sentiment shared by Director of the EYOF 2019 Organising Committee Senahid Godinjak.

“The main thing I took away from this week was that our organising committee has the capacity to finish the EYOF in the best way,” Godinjak said. “I saw lots of smiles, so much energy, we are strong as a team. Everybody congratulated each other, not just me, and with such positive energy. I’m really proud of them all.”

Media will be housed at the Hotel Terme, located about 5 minutes from the Athletes’ Village. Media accreditation, which will begin on 20 November and close on 31 December, will take place online via the 2019 EYOF Sarajevo & East Sarajevo website. NOC representatives were also briefed on security, medical, catering and protocol and other topics.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on 10 February at Koševo Stadium in Sarajevo, with the Closing Ceremony to be organised at the Slavija Stadium in East Sarajevo on 15 February.

Baku 2019 – The 15th Summer edition of the EYOF is set to take place in Baku from 21-27 July 2019. A progress report on

the preparations of the event was delivered by EOC CoCom Chair

Djordje Višacki, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Azerbaijan

Republic and CEO of the EYOF Baku 2019 Organising Committee (OC)

Azad Rahimov and Chief of staff of the EYOF Baku 2019 OC Nikki

Efendi.

To date, 49 of the 50 ENOCs have confirmed their participation, with 3,600 athletes and officials expected to attend ten sports events: artistic gymnastics, athletics, basketball, cycling, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

A Chefs de Mission Seminar for Baku 2019 is scheduled for 22 April 2019 with the launch of the EYOF mascot set for this December. The handover of the EYOF Flame of Peace will take place on 12 April 2019 at the historical building Ara Pacis in Rome.

The Technical Delegates (TDs) Meeting, which was held on 21 November, covered a wide range of topics, including sport data & technical regulations, athlete quotas, and designation of referees/jury members. The participants were given updates on the daily sports programme, the competition schedule, and competition and training venues, as well as a guided tour of the Baku 2019 competition and training venues. Another TDs Meeting is scheduled for 10 December.

For more information, please check the new Baku EYOF 2019 website here.

GAMES OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE

GSSE - The second sport event on the EOC 2019 calendar is the Games of the Small States of Europe, which will take place in Montenegro from 27 May to 1 June. Over 1,000 athletes from nine European countries will compete at the Games: Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino. The GSSE sports programme will feature ten different events: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, bowls, judo, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.

“The official slogan of the Games is ‘How Big We Are!’,” said

Director of the local Organising Committee Igor Vušurović in his

progress report at the 47th EOC General Assembly in Marbella.

“Sport performances of Montenegrin athletes will resonate with

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people beyond the national borders. The slogan ‘How Big We Are!’ demonstrates how the smallest countries can succeed

by having valuable skills, exuding strength and beauty while living in harmony with nature.”

The Opening Ceremony will take place on 27 May in the Budva Old Town following a new concept to hold the event on the streets of the city, which was first implemented this year at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to great success.

ENOCs

ALBANIA - The Albanian National Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the Albanian Olympic Academy, organised

their annual session titled “Athletes as role models” on 5 December 2018. The session was attended by Dean of the International Olympic Academy Kostantinos Georgiadis, President of the Albanian Olympic Academy Agron Cuka, as well as the President of the Albanian NOC Viron Bezhani. Two elite Albanian athletes – Luiza Gega and Izmir Smajlaj – were speakers at the conference and shared their sporting and personal experiences. Georgiadis was honoured with the symbol of the 25th anniversary of the Albanian Olympic Academy for his special contribution to the development of the National Olympic Academy and the Olympic

Movement. The meeting represented a timely opportunity to discuss a number of relevant issues, such as the role of Olympic champions in education, as well as Olympic education as an integral part of physical activity, sports and health. In preparation for the 2019 Olympic Week, the annual session of the Academy praised the artistic handicrafts created by local pupils and physical education teachers, who donated an embroidered flag with the Olympic Rings to the International Olympic Academy. BELARUS – Eight Belarusian medallists from the Buenos Aires 2018 YOG were celebrated at the Belarusian Olympic Hall of Fame on 15 November. The YOG 2018 shining stars (two-time gold medallist Artyom Kolosov (judo), silver and bronze medallist Anastasia Shkurdai (swimming), silver medallist Ivan Brynza (rowing), silver medallist Yelizaveta Dorts (track and field), bronze medallist Natalya Varakina (wrestling), bronze medallist Kristina Kontsevenko (pole vault), and bronze medallists Victoriya Akhotnikova and Ilya Fomenkov (acrobatics), were given gifts and monetary awards by the NOC of Belarus and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism. Vice President of the Belarusian NOC Andrei Astashevich welcomed the medallists with a warm message: “I hope the competitions in Buenos Aires were a turning point in your sports career, and we really wish to see you among the medallists at the Summer Olympics and the World and European Championship.” On 22 November, the NOC of Belarus, the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture (BSUPC) and the Belarusian Olympic Academy, organised an International Student Olympic Forum. More than 40 students from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan gathered to discuss current sport-related issues at the NOC headquarters in Minsk.

Head of the Department of Sports Engineering of the Belarusian National Technical University Valery Vasyuk emphasised the practical approach of the conference: “Events like this enable us to find young people who can join the training process of national sports teams in a few years and bring valuable knowledge and experience. It is impossible today to train high-class athletes without providing scientific support.”

During the first session, the speakers presented 24 reports covering mainly the technical aspects of high-performance sports achievements. The former member of the Belarusian National Biathlon Team Aleksander Dorozhko, who is now a student at the Belarusian National Technical University, shared his experience with the participants.

The influence of sports on various life aspects, the link between health and happiness, gender equality and the role of sports in sustainable development implementation were among the main topics discussed by the BSUPC students.

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The Olympic Museum of the NOC of Belarus attracts people of every age. More than 30 employees from IBA GROUP - one of the largest IT service providers in Eastern Europe - and their families visited the museum on 26 November.

The visitors had the chance to retrace the Olympic history of their country by being introduced to objects, pictures and medals of their sport idols. Among them are the tennis racket used by the former world No. 1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, the skis of freestyler Anton Kushnir, who won gold at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, and Izzy, the official mascot of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996.

“I was not interested in the Olympic Movement until today,” said one IBA employee. “I was aware that the Olympic Games are held every four years, but I did not know anything else about them. It turned out that the history is so interesting and fascinating. It's great to see the items live and get a better understanding of how the Games work. I think I will definitely watch the next Olympic Games, and after today’s visit at the museum I feel very prepared!”

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - The Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a seminar called “New Technologies in Sport” (NTS) at the Olympic Museum at the NOC headquarters on 7-8 November. The idea behind the conference was born in 2005 with the goal of boosting cooperation and innovation in sport, by establishing a network of partners to contribute to new relevant projects.

This year’s NTS focused on the education of volunteers at the EYOF, which will take place in Sarajevo and East Sarajevo from 10-15 February 2019. The main purpose of the seminar was to raise awareness about the EYOF and encourage volunteers to live by the Olympic values. The participants had the opportunity to gain knowledge of the various volunteering roles in multi-sport events and learn of sport volunteering worldwide. The agenda also included workshops on the importance of good communication, intercultural dialogue, networking, and time pressure management.

“Following in my mother’s footsteps, who was a volunteer at the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympic Games, I want to help my city be the best host and enjoy the same glory that we had in 1984,” said Alma, a 24-year-old student.

Organisers received very positive feedback from volunteers, who claimed to have enjoyed the training and are looking forward to experiencing the Winter EYOF in February.

CYPRUS - “Athletes as Role Models” was the core topic of the 30th Session of the Cyprus National Olympic Academy, which took place at the Olympic House in Nicosia on Saturday 8 December 2018.

More than 200 officials, coaches, athletes, students and journalists attended the conference to discuss the role of athletes beyond the sports career. The event also featured Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus Kostas Champiaouris, Advisor on Sports Matters to the President of the Republic Phivos Zachariades and Director of the National Olympic Academy of Bulgaria Lozan Mitev.

After the Olympic Anthem, performed by musician Irene Kakoyianni, President of the Cyprus NOC and the National Olympic Academy Dinos Michaelides greeted all participants. He then paid tribute to Egli Pantelaki, who retired as General Director of the Ministry of Education, for her huge contribution to youth, education and the Cypriot society.

Former 400m hurdles champion and Chair of the European Athletics Athletes Committee Periklis Iakovakis, Professor at the Peloponnese University Paraskevi Lioupi and Director of the Cyprus Olympic Library Dr Chrysanthos Chrysanthou delivered key speeches.

All three tackled different sides of the athlete’s figure. Iakovakis focused on the future of athletes after their sport career, taking also examples based on his personal background, while Dr Lioupi centred around athletes as a role model and how they can contribute in conveying Olympic values to the youth. Finally, Dr Chrysanthou presented a nice comparison between todays standard of the super athlete and the Ancient Greek model.

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CZECH REPUBLIC - An interactive online handbook aimed at supporting the ENOCs with the organisation of Olympic Festivals in their countries was launched by the NOC of Czech Republic in Prague during the “Global Sports Events Go Local” conference on 25 October.

The handbook was presented by Project Coordinator Jana Janotová to more than 90 participants from 13 countries. With the aim of engaging the local population in sport and Olympism in a fun environment, the Czech Olympic Committee plans to provide other ENOCs with recommendations, guidelines, case studies and examples of successful Olympic Festivals. The Czech Republic NOC is one of the leading and most experienced NOCs in hosting events of this kind, with the first having been organised in 2014 during the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

The release of the handbook is the culmination of a two-year project called “Sport Parks Inspired by the Olympics,” an initiative that was developed with the support of the IOC and NOCs of Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

“We have come a long way since the first Olympic Festival at Letná in 2014,” said Czech NOC President Jiří Kejval, referring to the first Olympic Park in Prague. “Since the launch last week, we’ve already had 80 entries in the Olympic Festival handbook from NOCs around the world, including the USA and Australia.”

Czech NOC Vice President Roman Kumpost said he is proud of his team’s work on the project and believes other NOCs will develop their own versions of Sport Festivals for future Olympic Games.

“When we started this project in 2014, it was unclear for us what to expect, but the results have been excellent,” Kumpost said. “It showed that there was high potential for the future of this project.”

After organising Olympic Parks for the Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, the NOC is planning a fourth Olympic Festival event for Tokyo 2020.

Another highlight for the Czech NOC was a conference titled “Sport on the Edge? The Pressure for Performance (not just) in Elite Sport,” which was organised with the support of the Senate of the Czech Parliament on 12 October. The conference tackled a series of topical issues that the sports movement is facing today, from gender equality to the communication between athletes and coaches. Debates also focused on the psychological and health impacts that excessive pressure can have on children, and included educational programmes for athletes and coaches.

“Our aim is to change public perceptions, which currently revolve around success and winning medals,” said NOC President Kejval. “As sports officials, we strive to give advice on how to behave with athletes to help them deal with pressure and other challenges throughout their sports careers.”

Three female Czech athletes, including world biathlon champion Gabriela Koukalová, Olympic gymnast Monika Vlčková, and canoe slalom gold medallist Štěpánka Hilgertová, were also present at the conference to share their experiences with the participants.

ESTONIA - At the IX Estonian Sports Forum on 16 November in Paide, the Estonian Olympic Committee presented plans to

establish a new elite sports programme: Team Estonia. The

programme aims to improve the competitive position of Estonian

elite sport and increase the number of medals won in international

championships.

Team Estonia is the joint cooperation project of the Estonian

Olympic Committee and Estonian Ministry of Culture. In the

programme, elite athletes and coaches will be provided with an

extended support system and high-level conditions. Support

services will also be made available to elite and young athletes.

The programme features Olympic and non-Olympic sports,

including individual and team events. Managed by the NOC, Team

Estonia will be launched in 2019 and aims to reach full scope

within five years.

The Forum kicked off with a speech by Estonian President Kersti

Kaljulaid. The NOC gave a proposal on how to promote sports for all and increase physical activity among the Estonian

children and youth. The plan is based upon the recommendation of the WHO, which suggests around 60 minutes of daily

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physical activity. Another proposal was aimed at all local governments to invest 5 per cent of their annual budgets in

sports activities by 2025.

The Estonian Sports Forum is organised by the Estonian Olympic Committee in four-year intervals (once in the Olympic

cycle). At the previous Forum in 2014, discussions centred on “Estonian sports policy foundations until 2030,” with the

resulting strategy document being approved by the Estonian Parliament. The Forum, which aims to define the key issues

and find solutions in Estonian sports, was attended by the representatives of sports organisations, and the national and

local governments. The first Estonian Sports Forum took place 99 years ago in 1919.

Click here for a photo gallery of the Forum

LATVIA – On 19 November, the Latvian NOC marked 30 years since its first participation at an Olympic Games by creating an Olympic Hall of Fame in the Latvian Sport Museum in Riga to honour all Latvian athletes.

The celebration of this milestone also coincided with the 100-year anniversary of Latvia's National Day, also known as the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, a declaration of independence from German and Russian occupation on 18 November 1918.

At the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Hall of Fame on 14 November, Latvia’s President Raimonds Vējonis delivered a welcome speech and praised all Latvian athletes for their contribution to the country.

Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) President Aldons Vrubļevskis

briefly retraced the history of the NOC, thanking all the Olympians,

World and European Champions for contributing with their

successes and values to the growth of the Olympic Movement in the country.

“We are proud of 100 years of progress,” Vrubļevskis said. “With this event, we would like to honour over 600 Olympians who have fiercely represented their people and country over the last 30 years, winning a total of 94 Olympic medals.”

ROMANIA- On 16 November, the NOC of Romania created “The Olympic Forest” in the open-air Village Museum, close to the Romanian Olympic Committee headquarters in Bucharest. A total of 100 Romanian Olympic icons planted 100 trees in the area surrounding the NOC to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country. The Olympic Forest – which embodies life, traditions, a sense of belonging, continuity and Mother Nature - is meant to be a place to keep alive the successes from the past and the aspirations for the future of the Romanian sport.

In addition to the representatives of the Romanian Olympic

Movement, the event also featured Romanian Minister of Youth and

Sports Gabriela Szabo and EOC EC Member Djordje Višacki, who

represented EOC President Janez Kocijančič.

“We greatly appreciate the hard work of the NOC of Romania in strengthening Europe as the main Olympic continent,” Visacki said. “Happy anniversary, Romania! Congratulations on your brilliant Olympic past and may you have the best of luck in the future!”

Romanian NOC President Mihai Covaliu stressed in his speech the importance to have good role models for the positive future of the nation and the European Olympic Movement.

“The Olympic values are strong, valid and useful in the field of sport, as in every aspect of life,” he said. “This is why we wish to bring forward our Olympic heroes as models of good achievement, and great examples for the young generations to follow.”

Romanian IOC Member Octavian Morariu delivered a message on behalf of IOC President Thomas Bach: “I would like to give credit to the important role that Romania plays in the Olympic Movement worldwide and congratulate the NOC on its achievements, as well as for successfully promoting the Olympic values and ideas.”

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SERBIA - A special reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Yugoslavian water polo team winning Serbia’s first

gold Olympic medal was organised in Belgrade on 25 October.

President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia Božidar Maljković

invited team members Dejan Dabović, Karlo Stipanić, Ozren

Bonačić, Ronald Lopatny as well as EOC Executive Committee

Member and Olympic rower Djordje Višacki, to the NOC

headquarters to commemorate the evocative moment.

The Yugoslavian water polo team won their first Olympic gold medal

in Mexico City in 1968, following three silver medals in Helsinki 1952,

Melbourne 1956 and Tokyo 1964.

“It was the least we could do for these legends of our sport,” Maljković said. “Fifty years is a great jubilee and it is our duty to cherish the memory of these milestones for our country and to pay tribute to the people who made history.”

SLOVENIA – To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December, the Slovenian Olympic Committee organised the 13th edition of the “Sport for All” congress in Ljubljana.

The two-day conference, which started on 30 November, focused on the role that sport plays in helping people with disabilities. Physical activity can significantly improve the quality of life of disabled people in biological, psychological, and social aspects. The aim of the seminar was to educate and train sports and medical professionals, as well as representatives of sports clubs and associations, on how best to respond to the needs of the disabled. The participants were updated with examples of physical activities and exercises, fitness programmes and projects that can be implemented according to the disability of the person in question.

On the second day, the NOC and the Paralympic Committee of Slovenia held recreational activities for people with disabilities. At the end of the seminar, the participants were awarded with a certificate.

About IDPD - The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

This year’s theme was “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.” It focused on the equitable and sustainable development envisaged in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UKRAINE – The Ukrainian Olympic Committee celebrated its Olympic medallists from Mexico 1968 and Seoul 1988 on 26 November in Kiev, Ukraine.

NOC President Sergey Bubka organised a special “Olympic Jubilee” ceremony on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Olympic Games 1968 in Mexico and the 30th anniversary of the Olympic Games 1988 in Seoul. The celebration paid tribute to the Ukrainian athletes who, following their successes at the Games, became the country’s sports legends. In 1968, Ukraine, as a part of the USSR Team, won a total of 35 medals (14 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze), while being awarded 62 medals (22 gold, 16 silver and 24 bronze) in 1988.

It was a nostalgic day for Bubka, who visited Korea on its 30th anniversary celebration, representing the World Olympic Family on behalf of IOC President Thomas Bach. Bubka, who became Olympic champion in pole vaulting at the Seoul 1988 Games, relived the immense pleasure and honour that he felt at the time.

“It is sincerely difficult to express the emotions that I feel after coming back to the place where I’d fulfilled my long-awaited, most cherished Olympic dream,” he said.

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“It is a great honour to have here present all those who represented so fiercely their motherland at the most prestigious sports competition in the world,” he said, addressing the Ukrainian sports legends at the ceremony in Kiev. “We want to maintain these traditions with future generations.”

During the celebrations, the Mexico 1968 and Seoul 1988 medallists were able to immerse themselves into the memories of their past and relive the Olympic moment through videos and photos of their Olympic performances.

On the eve of the Olympic jubilee, Olympians from different sports and generations joined the Ukrainian Olympians Assembly to discuss a variety of issues, including the role of Olympians in society, Olympic heritage, and social security. During the Assembly, Olympic rower and medallist Nina Umanets was re-elected President of the Ukrainian Olympians Association for the 2019-2022 period.

EUROPEAN UNION

EOC EU OFFICE - The NOC of Lithuania signed a bilateral agreement with the EOC EU Office on 9 November in Marbella.

The document was signed by EOC President Kocijančič and President of the Lithuanian NOC and EOC EC Member Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, on the occasion of the General Assembly of the EOC in Andalusia. The partnership is the outcome of solid cooperation between the two organisations that started some years ago with the contribution of the Lithuanian NOC to the success of the “Support the Implementation of Good Governance in Sport” (SIGGS) project.

Kocijančič stressed the importance of cooperation between all ENOCs with the EOC EU Office, especially in view of an increase in EU funds for sport programmes in the future.

Gudzinevičiūtė expressed her satisfaction with the partnership: “Working more closely with the EOC EU Office is another significant step forward for the NOC of Lithuania,” she said. “For us, this agreement is an opportunity to access

valuable information, play a key role in European sports policy, events, and social projects funded by the EU. It is also a yet another opportunity to share our experience.”

The EOC EU Office also organised a Special Competence Seminar at its headquarters in Brussels on 21-22 November. The meeting was aimed at informing the office’s partners about recent EU policy developments and exchanging views on the current hot topics in sport, as well as the ongoing activities carried out by various sport organisations. The event gathered participants from the NOCs of Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden as well as from various sport federations, such as the European Volleyball Federation (CEV), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Rugby Europe, European Athletic Association (EAA), FIBA Europe, and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).

The two-day meeting allowed for a comprehensive update on sport-related EU policies and a rich exchange of views on the safeguarding of the European Sports Model. Updates on the negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 with different sports funding programmes were also presented. Head of the Sport Unit at the European Commission Yves Le Lostecque provided an overview of the third EU Work Plan for Sport. Debates also revolved around the Digital Single Market, the biannual time switch, the VAT policy, Brexit and the growing phenomenon of eSports.

The Seminar concluded with a presentation of the new 2019 Erasmus+ call, an analysis of the 2018 Erasmus+ call (number of projects, budget and funding differences between the 2018 and 2019 call), practical advice and individual project guidance.

EUROPEAN SPORT PLATFORM - The first European Sport Platform (#ESP2018) was held in Budapest, Hungary from 16–17 November. Professionals, volunteers, policy makers and scholars were invited to participate in the debate on sport. Hosted by the Hungarian Competitive Sport Federation (NVESZ), the discussions at the #ESP2018 centred mainly on the future of sports clubs and the role of esports in European sport.

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The event kicked off with welcome speeches by Minister of State for Sport, Ministry of Human Capacities Tünde Szabó, President of the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO) Carlos Cardoso, and President of the Hungarian Competitive Sport Federation János Mészáros. Discussions were organised in five sessions dealing with a variety of crucial topics, such as sport’s potential for finding solutions for today’s societal issues, health and inclusion, employability and civic engagement, as well as how modern sports clubs intersect with esports. In addition, the event included sessions on how to tackle manipulation in sport and the importance of volunteering.

The participants shed light on how manipulation endangers the integrity and the future of sport, and provided recommendations on how sports clubs can support the Macolin Convention, the only rule of international law on the subject. It is currently gathering momentum with the implementation of the ambitious Macolin Roadmap, a coherent set of actions against sports manipulations.

With 35 million Europeans volunteering for sport, sport is the largest sector of civil society in Europe. Volunteering has many benefits – not just for sports, but also for the volunteers themselves, their communities, and society. The session featured a case example of the Open Club programme in the Netherlands, explaining how it has transformed traditional sports clubs to clubs that help increase sport participation. In partnership with a large Dutch bank, the programme is being implemented throughout the country.

To learn more about the sessions of the programme, please click here.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK – In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, debates took place during the first ever European Parliament Human Rights Week on 19 November in Brussels.

The meeting represented a timely opportunity for Europe to hear about the relevance and mainstreaming of human rights considerations in the activities of organisations that are in charge of large-scale sporting events. In line with the growing interest in large sporting events, discussions focused on how the expectations of citizens can be linked to their organisation and the values they should promote and protect.

President of the Polish Olympic Committee and Member of the EOC EC

Andrzej Kraśnicki was a speaker at the event, representing the

European Sports Movement.

In his speech, Kraśnicki stressed that human rights are the foundation of the Olympic Charter, with the Olympic values being endorsed in all activities and events of the EOC.

“Organising committees must respect the code of ethics of the Olympic Movement,” he said. “The host city contract of the 2nd European Games in Minsk includes a paragraph on human rights, which is based on the IOC host city contracts for the upcoming Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”

ANOC

The ANOC XXIII General Assembly took place from 28-29 November at the Pamir Convention Centre in Tokyo, Japan. It was the largest ever gathering of the umbrella continental association, with a record-breaking 1,400 delegates attending from the Olympic Movement.

Representatives from all 206 NOCs took part in the event, along with the IOC, International Federations (IFs) and the Olympic Games Organising Committees (OCOGs). Participants were informed about preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, and attended presentations held by the remaining bid cities (Stockholm and Italy’s joint bidders Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo) for the 2026 Winter Games.

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At the end of the first day, an award ceremony took place to pay tribute to the outstanding performances of the best athletes and teams at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. European athletes were awarded with a number of prizes.

The first award went to the Swedish Female Curling Team for

“Best Female Team of PyeongChang 2018”. Anna Hasselborg, Sara

McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs, and Jennie

Wåhlin won gold in PyeongChang, beating host nation Republic of

Korea in the final and securing Sweden’s status as the dominant

female force in the sport.

Another success for our continent was secured by Norway, who received the award for “Most successful NOC of PyeongChang 2018”. The Norwegian delegation topped the medals table at the Games earlier this

year, claiming a total of 14 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.

The “Best Female Athlete of PyeongChang 2018” award went to Italian speed skater and three-time medallist Arianna Fontana, who was Italy’s flagbearer at the Games. Fontana secured a maiden Olympic title by triumphing in the women’s 500 metres short track speed skating event. She also won a bronze medal for the 1000m event and silver for the 3000m relay. In her career, she has earned a total of eight Olympic medals, making her the greatest female short track skater in Olympic history.

Bjørn Dæhlie was named winner of the “Outstanding Athlete” prize in recognition of his glittering career in cross-country skiing. The Norwegian claimed eight Olympic gold medals during his career, with two compatriots Marit Bjørgen and Ole Einar Bjørndalen matching the tally. Along with his twelve Olympic medals in total, Dæhlie won nine world titles during his career.

As for “Contribution to the Olympic Movement”, the award was given to Italian IOC Member

Mario Pescante. Pescante, who is considered one of the most influential personalities in the Olympic Movement, is retiring at the end of the year and will become IOC Honorary Member. The Italian has served as Secretary General and President of the Italian NOC, and was EOC President and ANOC Vice President for five years.

In the category “Breakthrough NOCs of PyeongChang 2018,” awards were given to all countries that made their Winter Olympics debut: Kosovo, Ecuador, Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore.

Other awards were presented to American snowboarder Shaun White as “Best Male Athlete of PyeongChang2018”, the US Curling Team for “Best Male Team of PyeongChang 2018”, Korean figure skater Yuna Kim for “Most Inspirational Performance”, and the Unified Korean Ice Hockey Team for “Inspiring Hope through Sport.”

The EOC would like to express our hearty congratulations to ANOC Secretary General and EOC Ex-Officio Member Gunilla Lindberg for receiving the Gangwon Honorary Citizenship and the Maengho Medal – one of Korea’s highest Orders of Sport – in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the success of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Lindberg was awarded on 22 November during a special forum dedicated to the achievements and future tasks of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

MISCELLANEOUS

A total of 30 game-changers from 26 countries were selected for the “New Leaders Programme.” Applications were sent in by more than 50 highly qualified sports professionals from 28 European countries.

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The assessment and selection process was carried out by the EOC Gender Equality Commission, with the shortlist being announced last month at the EOC General Assembly in Marbella. Motivation to enhance personal leadership skills and enthusiasm to make an impact on sport movement were the key requirements to be selected. The call to implement the IOC Gender Equality Recommendations into action was warmly welcomed and the participants are eager to kick off an action plan in their organisations.

Each participant is also mentored by an experienced leader, such as Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, the newly awarded IOC Women and Sport Winner for Europe, IOC Member, Lithuanian NOC President and EOC EC

member.

“I am sure that the ‘New Leaders Programme’ will help the participants gain knowledge, develop skills and enhance self-confidence,” she said. “I am very happy to join this project and as a mentor and I will support participants as much as I can and share my experience.”

The “New Leaders Programme” is a legacy project of Birgitta Kervinen, the winner of the 2017 IOC Women and Sport World Trophy. The educational programme is a joint effort coordinated by the NOC of Finland, IOC, EOC, NOC of Lithuania, NOC of Ireland and NOC of Azerbaijan.

The programme encourages people to dream, speak up and act as game-changers who shape the future of sport. Topics of strategic leadership, communications, public speaking, lobbying and conflict management will be viewed through the lenses of equality, sustainability, human rights and ethics. The participants will design concrete action plans on a personal and organisational level, while putting the IOC Gender Equality Recommendations into action.

The selected game-changers are:

Zoran Bartek (Czech Republic), Pedro Dias (Portugal), Galia Dvorak (Spain), Daniele Facchinetti (Italy), Anett Fodor (Hungary), Petra Gantnerova (Slovakia), Iva Glibo (Croatia), Yarden Har Lev (Israel), Vegard Henriksen (Norway), Natalia Ivanyuk (Russia), Pierre Kass (Luxembourg), Mikkel Kidmose Risager (Denmark), Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (Croatia), Anunciata Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein), Maris Lindmäe (Estonia), Katri Mattsson (Finland), Conor Meany (Ireland), Silvija Mitevska (Macedonia), Grainne Murphy (Ireland), Dmytro Mytsak (Ukraine), Floriane Poncet (France), Ivana Pranjić (Austria), Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Finland), Narmin Shakhaliyeva (Azerbaijan), Marianna Sikorowska (United Kingdom), Vilius Srėbalius (Lithuania), Laura Maria Tiidla (Estonia), Marieke van der Plas (Netherlands), Stephanie Wheeler (Cyprus), Laurynas Zibolis (Lithuania).