The International Olympic Academy’s (IOA) 17th International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students which took place in Ancient Olympia ended its works on Monday (27 July 2009). The Seminar, which aims at developing new experts on Olympic ideas, sports, and education from all over the world, explored the ancient and modern history of the Olympic Games, as well as the social, political and cultural dimensions of the modern Olympic Movement.

The International Olympic Academy stands out in the broader academic world for its scientific reliability. During its long history, the Academy has presented an important work with remarkable outcomes through its collaboration with well-known universities and scientific centers worldwide.

The 17th International Seminar for Postgraduate Students took place in the IOA’s premises in Ancient Olympia, which constitutes an Educational, Cultural and Sports’ center for the past 50 years. This year specifically, the Seminar had an upgraded role as the new International Postgraduate Studies Program entitled: “Olympic Studies, Olympic Education and Management of Olympic Events” will open its doors this fall.

During the closing ceremony of the Seminar in Ancient Olympia, the President of the International Olympic Academy, Mr. Isidoros KOUVELOS warmly thanked the 38 participants and named one by one all the lecturers – Mr. Jim PARRY, Ms. Irena MARTINKOVA, Mr. Ingomar WEILER, Mr. Douglas BROWN, Mr. Kazuo UCHIUMI, Mr. Andy MIAH, Mr. Norbert MÜLLER, Mr. Emmanouel MIKROYANNAKIS, Mr. Kostas GEORGIADIS, Mr. Sam RAMSAMY (member of the International Olympic Committee) as well as the coordinator of the Seminar, Mr. Vangelis ALEXANDRAKIS.

“The educational and cultural dimension of the contemporary Olympic Movement, as it has been developed by Coubertin and his successors and is still being developed in our days, is not simply a random historic retrospection. It is the most powerful social phenomenon, with Ancient Olympia as its cradle, which accommodated us here. I believe that the sacredness of Ancient Olympia and the humanitarian ideas of the Olympic Movement will determine the cohesion and the future route of all of us in the educational and scientific field”, underlined, among other, in his speech during the closing ceremony the President of the IOA, Mr. Isidoros KOUVELOS.

IOA Press Office