66th International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors

Main topic: “Empowering Inclusion,Integrity and Responsibility for Every Athlete”

Special topic:“Championing Inclusion, Integrity and Responsibility:  Building a Safe and Fair Future for Every Athlete”

Arrival in Athens: Saturday,6 June 2026

Opening Ceremony (in Athens): Sunday,7 June 2026

Departure to Olympia: Monday,8 June 2026

Works of the Session:Tuesday,9 June – Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Departure from Olympia & Athens: Thursday, 18 June 2026

‍

The NOCs should collaborate with their respective NOAs for the selection of the candidates, who should not exceed the number of three (3) persons.

We would like to remind you that people who have previously attended the Session will not be accepted.

Upon their online registration, participants (in collaboration with their NOC/NOA) will be requested to submit a plan of initiatives they are going to take after the end of the session in order to share their experience and disseminate the knowledge acquired during the Session. This must include at least three (3) of the following:

· Assist in implementing of minimum one programme with their NOC/NOA.

· Disseminate knowledge and experience acquired in the Session at either a school, sports organization, or through social media platforms (reach needs to exceed 100 people).

· Create or become part of minimum one network for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on Olympic subjects (e.g. IOA social media network, IOAPA – IOA Alumni Network etc.).

· Create their own research, educational or work project which is related to the IOA, sports, Olympism, Olympic Games etc.

· Make use of the various social media platforms in order to disseminate a) the experience they have acquired during the Session and b) the work/projects/programs they have undertaken after being inspired by their participation (e.g. by creating their own YouTube channel/vlog detailing their experience, or by creating content on Facebook, Instagram etc. during and after the Session).

After the implementation of their plan of initiatives, the Young Olympic Ambassadors will be required to send their impact reports to the IOA who will then create a portfolio for further consideration by the IOC. 

NOCs and NOAs are kindly requested to provide their delegates with all the necessary information and hold briefings on the educational role of the IOA and the content of the YOA Session prior to the participants' departure.

‍

The registration platform - https://registration.ioa.org.gr - will be open from Friday, 16 January 2026 and the final date for enrollment will be Friday, 27 February 2026, after which the registration platform will be closed.

The working languages of the Session are English and French, and participants must speak fluently at least one of these languages. In order for applicants to be accepted in the Session they must submit the relevant English or French certificates or be native speakers.

- Upload a motivation letter (approx. 500 words)

- Upload a plan of initiatives (approx. 500 words)

- Upload a signed and sealed letter from NOC/NOA which verifies your official nomination

- Upload a language certificate which proves your level of knowledge

- Upload a copy of ID card or passport (max size 500kb)

- Upload a passport photo in electronic format (Technical requirements: Digital file format: .jpg, jpeg or .png | Ratio: 4:3 (Height: Width) | Resolution: minimum 300 DPI (dots per inch) | Size: around 100kb)

- Sign the Declaration of Consent

‍

The IOA stronglyencourages Olympic/Paralympic medallists and/or athletes who have participated in Olympic/Paralympic Games to make presentations on topics related to their Olympic experience. A Word document of the paper of maximum 2pages, written in English or French must be sent to s.tachtara@ioa.org.gr until Friday, 15 May 2026.

A) Registration Fees

All participants are required to pay registration fees amounting to 150 euros per person. The payment of the registration fees will be effected via PAYPAL or via Pay-by-Link (Alpha Bank) used only in the event that the PayPal payment method is unavailable or encounters technical issues. Please kindly note that from 2025 only this payment method is eligible for any transaction (bank transfers are not accepted). 

B) Participation fees

Participation fees for one male AND/OR one female participant(s) per NOC/NOA are covered by Olympic Solidarity. Participation fees for a second male or a second female participant as well as for a third participant are set at 1.220 euros per person.

The payment of the participation fees (1.220 euros per person) for any additional participant must be realized via PAYPAL or via Pay-by-Link (Alpha Bank) used only in the event that the PayPal payment method is unavailable or encounters technical issues. Please kindly note that from 2025 only this payment method is eligible for any transaction (bank transfers are not accepted).  

C) Transport

Air-tickets

Olympic Solidarity will cover 50% of the cost for the air-ticket (economy class) for one male AND/OR one female participant per NOC.

The IOA will confirm the final list of participants, based on which Olympic Solidarity will generate the financial reports on the RELAY platform (IOC Olympic Solidarity), making them available to the concerned NOCs. The reimbursement of 50% of the flight ticket will be sent to the NOC upon receipt and validation of this financial report.

Local transport

The IOA will take care of the participants’ local transport strictly from June 6th (date set for the arrival of the participants in Athens) to June 18th (date set for departure).

D) Accommodation/Boarding

Accommodation both in Athens (only for the nights of 6th and 7th of June 2026) and in Olympia will be at the charge of the International Olympic Academy. Any additional overnight stay in Athens must be taken in charge by the participants.

Also, please bear in mind that all participants will be allocated in twin and triple rooms, both in Athens and in Olympia with no exceptions whatsoever.

E) Visa

Participants who need a VISA to enter Greece should address themselves to the Greek Embassy/Consulate of their country, where they will submit their application along with an invitation letter from the IOA. Should there be no Greek Embassy in some countries a VISA from an Embassy of any country member of the European Union could be accepted.

Please, bear in mind that applications for VISA must be submitted well in advance, in some cases 4 months before your trip, otherwise you might not receive your VISA on time.

May we remind you once again that any cost concerning the issuing of such a VISA should be borne by the participants themselves.

‍

· A full refund will be givenup to 80 calendar days prior to the start date of the Session, namely until March18, 2026.

· A 50% refund will be givenfor cancellations made 79 to 72 calendar days prior to the start date of theSession, namely March 19, 2026 to March 26, 2026.

· No refund will be grantedfor cancellations made within 71 calendar days of the start date of theSession, namely from March 27, 2026.

· No refunds will be given forNo Shows.

· A full refund will beprovided in the event that the Session is cancelled by the InternationalOlympic Academy.

· Refunds are issued by theInternational Olympic Academy and may take some days, after the refund has beenprocessed, to be received. IOA retains the right of the return method.

· In the case of an emergency/extenuating circumstances, special requests may be considered on a case-by-casebasis by the International Olympic Academy

·  Refund requests should besubmitted in writing to: log@ioa.org.gr andc.skaliarakis@ioa.org.gr