The seventh congress of the European Olympic Academies (EOA) took place from October 7 in Prague (CZE), under the auspices of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).

The seventh Congress of the European Olympic Academies (EOA) took place starting on October 7 in Prague, Czech Republic, under the auspices of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).

EOA President Prof. Manfred Laemmer and Alexandr Kliment, President of the Czech Olympic Academy, welcomed more than 60 guests, including delegates from 30 National Olympic Academies, to a week of exchange, dialogue, and reflection.

Held under the overarching theme “Current Issues and Developments of the Olympic Movement – Commemorating the Olympic Congress in Prague, 1925: Lasting Legacy and Ongoing Challenges,” the event invited participants to reflect on both the historic roots and the future directions of Olympism in Europe.

With the participation of distinguished partners and guests such as the EOC, the International Olympic Academy (IOA), the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM), the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE), and the Association of African National Olympic Academies (AANOA), the EOA Congress once again reaffirmed its role as a unifying platform for knowledge exchange, dialogue, and cooperation across and beyond Europe. It remains committed to preserving Olympic heritage and promoting fair play, education, and integrity in sport.

A highlight of the week was a gala evening at the historic Tyrš Hall, one of the symbolic sites of Czech sport and Olympic heritage in Prague, where the annual EOA Flame Awards were presented for outstanding contributions to Olympic education and heritage.

In addition, the eighth EOA General Assembly was held.

The European Fair Play Movement was represented at these important events by Katarina Raczová, Vice-President of the Movement. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two organizations:

“After all, we share the same goals and tasks, and our collaboration is a vital step in promoting Olympic values and the principles of fair play in sport, and in spreading these values throughout society, particularly among the younger generation.
This ensures that everyone understands: the Olympic flame does not only burn in stadiums during the Olympics but must also burn in our hearts and help us understand what Emil Zátopek said:
Great is the victory, but the friendship of all is greater.
May this General Assembly and Congress not only be a forum for dialogue, but also a platform for action, counterbalancing the negative aspects experienced in today's sporting world and everyday life.”

Photo: ČOV / Tomáš Kozáček

12.10.2025