19th International Session for National Olympic Academies’ & National Olympic Committees’ Delegates
May 17, 2026
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19th INTERNATIONAL SESSION FOR NATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMIES’ & NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES’ DELEGATES
17-24 May 2026
PROGRAMME
Main subject: “Empowering Inclusion, Integrity and Responsibility for Every Athlete”
Special subject: “Driving Inclusion, Integrity and Responsibility: Strengthening Education, Governance and Safeguarding for Every Athlete”
May 17 – Sunday
Arrival of the lecturers and delegates in Athens.
Accommodation at the below hotels:
Novotel Hotel – 4, Michail Voda, 104 39 Athens (Tel.: +30 210 8200700, E-mail: H0866@accor.com).
Candia Hotel- 40, Theodore Diligiannis, 115 23, Athens (Tel.: +30 210 5246112, E-mail: candia@candia-hotel.gr).
May 18 – Monday
08:00 hrs Departure for Ancient Olympia.
09:00 hrs Guided tour at the Panathenaic Stadium.
14:00 hrs Arrival at the IOA premises in Ancient Olympia.
14:30 hrs Lunch at the IOA premises.
17:00 hrs Opening Ceremony of the works of the 19th International Session for National Olympic Academies’ and National Olympic Committees’ Delegates.
Olympic Anthem.
Presentation of the lecturers and the delegates.
Address by Prof. Charilaos Tsolakis, President of the International Olympic Academy, Member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Member of the Hellenic Fencing Federation and Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Address by Mr Isidoros Kouvelos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Vice President of the International Olympic Truce Centre.
19:00 hrs Panel Discussion on the subject “Inclusion, Integrity & responsibility in the Olympic Games”.
Ms Samira Asghari (AFG), IOC Member, Ms Emma Terho (FIN), Bronze Medallist and five-time Olympian in Ice Hockey.
Moderator: Dr Makis Asimakopoulos, IOA Director
20:00 hrs Laying of wreaths at the stele of Pierre de Coubertin, renovator of the Olympic Games, and at the commemorative monument of John Ketseas and Carl Diem, pioneers of the International Olympic Academy.
21:00 hrs Dinner
May 19 – Tuesday
08:30 hrs Lecture by Ms Emma Terho (FIN), Bronze Medallist and five-time Olympian in Ice Hockey, on the subject: Policy and Power: The Role of Education in Developing Ethical Olympic.
09:00 hrs Q&A Session.
10:00 hrs Visit to the archaeological site and the Museum of Ancient Olympia.
13:00 hrs Lunch
16:30 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Mike McNamee (GBR), Professor of Applied Ethics in the College of Engineering, University of Swansea, UK, on the subject: Policy and Power: The Role of Education in Developing Ethical Olympic Leaders.
17:00 hrs Q&A Session.
17:30 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Nelson Todt (BRA), Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on the subject: How can National Olympic Academies promote ethical leadership through education for athletes?
18:00 hrs Q&A Session.
18:30 hrs Working Group (1).
May 20 – Wednesday
09:00 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Yannis Pitsiladis (GRE), Professor at the Department of Sports and Health Services, Hong Kong Baptist University, on the subject: Integrity and protection of clean sport. The possibilities of benefiting from education on integrity and practising clean, doping free sport (what are the roles of IFs and NOCs).
09:30 hrs Q&A Session.
10:00 hrs Lecture by Dr Vesa Nissinen (FIN), Founder and President of Deep Lead Inc., Associate Professor, University of Lapland, Professor of Practise, Manav Rachna University, ISSF Academy Director and President of the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation, on the subject: Leadership with Responsibility: Building Ethical Cultures in Sports Organizations for athletes and their entourage, officials and administrators.
10.30 hrs Q&A Session.
11:00 hrs Break
11:30 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Ik Young Chang (KOR), Director at the Korean Institute for Olympic Studies (KIOS), Korea National Sport University, Seoul, South Korea, on the subject: Improve Education to understand the Olympic Movement history, values and structure.
12:00 hrs Q&A Session.
12:30 hrs Working Group (2).
16:00 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Silliani "Ani" Chroni (GRE), Professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Coaching, University of Inland Norway, Norway, on the subject: The roles and responsibilities of sports organization in safeguarding Education, Culture and Systems.
16:30 hrs Q&A Session.
17:00 hrs Lecture by Prof. Dr Cesar R. Torres (ARG), Professor Emeritus at the Kinesiology, Sport Studies and Physical Education Dpt., SUNY Brockport and Professor, at the Kinesiology Dpt., Penn State University, USA, on the subject: Safe Sport & Safeguarding in Sport.
17:30 hrs Q&A Session.
18:00 hrs Video Projection on NOAs Activities.
19:00 hrs Working Group (3).
May 21 – Thursday
09:00 hrs Lecture by Dr Noemi Zaharia OLY (USA), Director of Sport Leadership and Associate Professor, United States Sports University, USA on the subject: Empowering Olympians as Educators within National Olympic Academies.
09:15 hrs Q&A Session.
09:30 hrs Lecture by Dr Cristian Zaharia OLY (USA), Director of International Sport Business Development and Assistant Professor, Cronin-Sumitt Colege of Business, United States Sports University, USA, on the subject: Designing Evidence-Based Educational Programs in Olympism for National Olympic Academies.
09:45 hrs Q&A Session.
10:00 hrs Video Projection on NOAs Activities.
11:00 hrs Working Group (4).
12:00 hrs Final elaboration of the conclusions from the working groups.
14:00 hrs Submission of the conclusions to the IOA organizers.
18:30 hrs IOA Awards Ceremony,
21.00 hrs Dinner reception by the pool.
May 22 – Friday
10:00 hrs Presentation of the conclusions deriving from the working groups.
Closing Ceremony of the works of the 19th International Session for National Olympic Academies’ and National Olympic Committees’ Delegates.
Presentation of delegates' diplomas.
Address on behalf of the delegates.
Address on behalf of the coordinators.
Address on behalf of the lecturers.
Address by Prof. Charilaos Tsolakis, President of the International Olympic Academy.
Olympic Anthem.
May 23 – Saturday
08.00 hrs Departure of the delegates.
09.00 hrs OVEP - morning working session
OVEP - afternoon working session
May 24 – Sunday
08.00 hrs Departure of the lecturers and the delegates from Ancient Olympia to Athens Airport.
La version française du programme sera affiché bientôt.
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