The Hellenic Olympic Academy hosted the 6th European Olympic Academies Congress

In 2024, the spotlight shifted to the birthplace of the Olympic Games, as Olympia became the

centre of Olympic values promotion in Europe. The Hellenic Olympic Academy hosted the 6th

European Olympic Academies Congress from September 24 to 28, 2024 at the premises of the

International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympism.

Congress theme: Perspectives of the Olympic Movement after the Paris Games In recent years, the world has undergone profound transformations, with political, social, climatic, health, and economic shifts reshaping global dynamics. These changes have also significantly affected the realm of sports and the organisation of major events like the Olympic Games. As the Olympic Movement navigates between its rich traditions and the need for development, this year’s EOA Congress explored the future of the Olympic Program in the postParis 2024 landscape. Experts from academia and sports organisations came together to discuss how the Olympic Movement can respond to these evolving challenges and seize new opportunities.

The Congress was divided into three thematic units:

 · 1st Unit: The Olympic Program between Tradition and Change Subtopics:

- The Olympic Movement, Current Development and Perspectives

 - The Olympic Program ant the Contest of Global Societal Transformation

 - The IOC Olympic Studies Centre's Collaboration with the Academic Community and its Activities on the Occasion of Paris 2024

- OVEP: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Rapidly Changing Global Education Trends and the Lessons from Paris 2024 Games

 · 2nd Unit: The Legacy and Message of Paris 2024 Subtopics:

 - The Political Legacy of Paris 2024

 - The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris as Reflected in the National and International Media

 - The Paris Olympic Games in the Light of Fair Play

 · 3d Unit : Collaboration of National Olympic Academies with Universities Subtopics :

 - Olympic Pedagogy in Higher Education

 - The Legacy Program of the Paris 2024 OCOG

 - Current Hellenic Olympic Academy Activities and Projects

 - Current EOA Activities and Projects After the conclusion of each Unit there was a group of Workshops, relevant to the subject matters.

The General Secretary of the EFPM Mr. Ioannis Psilopoulos was invited speaker, dealing with the subtopic "The Paris Olympic Games in the Light of Fair Play".

The lecture focused on the various incidents that occurred exclusively IN the sports fields and referred to the behaviors of the athletes, the coaches, the referees, the spectators and the mass media.

On the third day of the Congress, an Event was organised by the Hellenic Olympic Academy and

the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, where the Creator of the International Olympic Passport

Prof. Gennaro Testa, Sports Sociologist of the University of Florence and the Mayor of the Ancient Olympia signed a Protocol, according to which the Municipality of Ancient Olympia became the hometown of the International Fair Play Passport.

The event was attended by all the representatives of the European Olympic Academies and the EFPM Gen. Secretary Ioannis Psilopoulos was asked to present the Fair Play philosophy and the European Fai Play Movement.

In the afternoon of the third day, the EOA had its General Assembly and the EFPM participated as Observer as foreseen by the MoU between the two Organisations. Mr. Psilopoulos extended a short greetings speech. The Congress was concluded in the evening of the third day, with a very warm Gala and the EOA 2024 Flame Awards Ceremony.

09.10.2024