The International Olympic Academy (IOA) will hold the Opening Ceremony of the 66th International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors on Sunday, 7 June 2026, at 19:00, on the historic Pnyx Hill in Athens, one of the most important institutions for promoting Olympic values among younger generations.

The ceremony will take place in the presence of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos An. Tassoulas, who will officially declare the opening of the Session.

The programme will begin with the performance of the Olympic Anthem, followed by an address from the President of the International Olympic Academy, Professor Charilaos Tsolakis.

A greeting will also be delivered by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Mr. Isidoros Kouvelos, while the message of the President of the International Olympic Committee and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Mrs. Kirsty Coventry, will be read by Mr. Spyros Capralos, Member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee and President of the European Olympic Committees.

A special highlight of the Ceremony will be the presentation of the honorary distinction “Lysikrates” to Alpha Bank, in recognition of its valuable sponsorship support, trust, and substantial contribution to the work of the Academy, as well as its longstanding commitment to promoting the Olympic Movement and the values of sport.

The Greek National Anthem, the Olympic Anthem, and the musical programme accompanying the event will be performed by the ERT National Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of Michalis Oikonomou and the ERT Choir under the direction of Valeri Oreski. The ceremony will be presented by Mr. Alexis Kostalas.

The 66th International Session for Young Olympic Ambassadors, which will run until 18 July and take place at the IOA premises in Ancient Olympia, will bring together 153 young men and women from 95 countries. In addition, 15 coordinators and 11 internationally renowned speakers will participate in the Session.

The main theme of the Session is: “Empowering Inclusion, Integrity and Responsibility for Every Athlete.”

The special theme is:“Championing Inclusion, Integrity and Responsibility: Building a Safe and Fair Future for Every Athlete.”

Throughout the Session, the Young Olympic Ambassadors will have the opportunity to exchange views, deepen their understanding of the principles of Olympism, and strengthen their role as promoters of Olympic ideals in their respective countries.

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