Spyros Capralos, head of the European Olympic Committees,was at the helm of a prominent mission in Türkiye's biggest city for a series of pivotal meetings with national officials this week. The city is gearing up to host the fourth edition of the European Games in two years' time.

With an emotional closing ceremony at the Jane Sandanski Sports Centre, theEuropean Youth Olympic Festival drew to a close last week, wrapping up an edition that brought together more than 2,500 young athletes from 50 national Olympic committees in the largest youth sports event on the continent.

With the opening ceremony held on Monday at the Jane Sandanski Sports Centre, the European Youth Olympic Festival was officially inaugurated as the largest multi-sport event ever hosted inNorth Macedonia, bringing together over 4,000 participants from 50 delegations.

The EOC EU Office has officially launched SIGGS 3.0, a user-friendly platform, supported by Erasmus+ and Symantra, to help sports organisations across Europe strengthen their governance.

The Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) officially commenced its new term with the inaugural meeting of its board of directors at the Olympic House in Istanbul on Monday, as the session laid out plans to enhance its influence within national sports.

The Flame of Peace for the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF)Bakuriani 2025 was lit on Thursday by Georgian athletes Anastasia Mirianashvili and Nikoloz Egadze, who were accompanied by Organising Committee President Mamuka Khabareli at a stunning ceremony in Rome, Italy.

Annamarie Phelps, a member of the Executive Committee of theEuropean Olympic Committees (EOC), called for more female leadership in sport at the Council of Europe conference in Portugal this week.

Istanbul took the first step towards becoming the host of the fourth European Games last Thursday, likely to be held at the end of June 2027. The visibility of this metropolis and the potential for economic development, among other factors, were key in reaching this agreement.

President Spyros Capralos presented Istanbul as the host of the fourth European Games to be held in 2027. He did so alongside the Mayor of the bicontinental city, Mr Ekrem İmamoğlu, who both highlighted the virtues of the great Turkish metropolis.

The fourth edition of the European Games will be held in Istanbul, in 2027. This was the unanimous decision of the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) at its meeting on 20th March.

The European Games was a heavy focus of the second day of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly here, where it was reported Kraków-Małopolska 2023 was the most "cost-efficient" of the three editions to date.

Volunteers from this year's European Games held in Kraków and Małopolska have received gifts to thank them for their contribution to the event.

Organisers have claimed the European Games contributed to record tourist numbers in Kraków and the Małopolska region of Poland this year.

A taskforce is poised to be set up by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) to consider key learnings from the European Games in Kraków-Małopolska.

The Summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) has concluded with Italy top of the medals table after the Flame of Peace was extinguished at the Closing Ceremony.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel'sBoléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcomSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musicalThe Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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