ENGSO Youth is feeling Olympic: Paris 2024 and youth sport
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are being hosted by France, from 24 July to 11 August 2024. Several current and former ENGSO Youth Committee members, Alumni Club members and Young Delegates are present in Paris, contributing to the Olympics as members of delegations or sport federations, IOC Young Leaders, volunteers and spectators.
First to arrive was ENGSO Youth Committee member Isaiah Kioiloglou who participated in UNESCO’s “Change the Game” Sport Conference – Partners’ Forum, on behalf of IOC Young Leaders, which took place on 23 July 2024. The conference and the Forum addressed the social impact of investments in sport policies and programmes. The Partners’ Forum was followed by a Ministerial Forum on 24 July 2024 during which the new Paris Agreement was adopted. Isaiah later joined the Olympics as a volunteer, supporting delegations from Estonia, Cyprus and Australia.
Speaking of volunteering, ENGSO Youth Alumni Club member Christian Hajj volunteered for his sixth big sport event. This time he supported the Greek delegation.
Meeting new people and gaining new, valuable experiences were the two main reasons he decided to join the Paris 2024 volunteering team: “I decided to volunteer at the Olympics because it’s a unique opportunity to be part of a global event that celebrates excellence, diversity, and unity. Volunteering allows me to contribute to a once in a lifetime experience for athletes, spectators, and fellow volunteers from around the world. The benefits for me include the chance to meet people from diverse backgrounds, gain valuable experience in a mega sporting event, and be inspired by the dedication and passion of the athletes. It’s a rewarding way to be part of something much larger than myself, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.”
On 5 August 2024, our Committee members Isaiah Kioiloglou and Luca Wernert joined forces and facilitated a workshop for young participants of the German-French Olympic Youth camp during which they presented the work of ENGSO Youth and organised a discussion on what young participants of the camp appreciate, know and expect from Europe. They also brainstormed and developed project ideas on how to foster European cooperation through sport with young people. To finish the workshop, youngsters tested their knowledge through a quick, fun quiz.
A week earlier, Luca Wernert visited the camp to welcome the Member of the German Bundestag Boris Mijatović. Among other activities, he presented to him the Human Rights Education through Sport programme we have developed in 2022.
Other Committee members present at the Olympics as part of their delegations included: Marija Leskovec, Croatian Olympic Committee, Mirjana Ivkovic, Olympic Committee of Serbia and Erik van Haaren, Netherlands Olympic Committee and Sports Federation. We also spotted former Committee members Sofie Korbee, Luka Boerger, Henni Weinberg, Bence Garamvölgyi, Paolo Emilio Adami and Anett Fodor.
Besides the Committee, several Young Delegates visited Paris: Marie Halna, David Adesanya, Jan Steinmuller and Michal Cmelik. Paul Bayet, Youth in action participant, joined the games as IOC Young Leader. And many other partners and friends who are enjoying the Olympic games and the beauty of sports.
Let’s not forget – not only to enjoy watching, but to practise sport regularly! #BeActive
