We continue our series regarding the celebrations of the EOA Family on the occasion of Olympic Day. Today, we are happy to take a look at the joint activities of the Austrian Olympic Committee and the Austrian Olympic Academy.
Olympic Day
All six Olympic Centers in Austria celebrated Olympic Day 2026 with a series of events spread across the week, offering plenty of exercise, learning, and discovery in line with the three pillars of Olympic Day: “Move, Learn, Discover.” Hundreds of pupils enjoyed a varied programme of physical activities, including the chance to try new sports, take part in a range of activity stations, complete motor skills assessments, and compete in an exciting Olympic quiz. An extra highlight was the meet & greet with numerous elite athletes, who answered students’ questions and shared personal insights into their journey to the top.
School Projects
In collaboration with “Q. Dein Raum für Wissenschaft” (a joint initiative of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the University of Vienna, and the Vienna University of Technology), the Austrian Olympic Academy carried out the following projects:
1. Evaluation of the School Brochure for Milano Cortina 2026
At Don Bosco School Unterwaltersdorf, a fourth-grade class took a closer look at the School Brochure for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (Olympia in der Schule | Österreichisches Olympisches Comité). As a first step, the students worked with the booklet, and in a follow-up lesson, they gave feedback and completed a questionnaire to share their views on the brochure. The feedback and suggestions for improvement will help inform the development of educational materials for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
2. Exhibition on Olympic Values
What do excellence, friendship, and respect mean in the everyday lives of 10- and 11-year-olds? Students at a sports-oriented federal secondary school in Baden, near Vienna, explored this question by curating an exhibition on Olympic values. Selecting meaningful everyday objects – from sports equipment and medals to personal keepsakes – they illustrated how these values shape their lives. The exhibition was officially opened by two-time Olympic rower Louisa Altenhuber, who joined the young curators in cutting the symbolic ribbon.
3. Insights into the Daily Lives & Routines of Olympians
The Olympic spirit came alive at the Europagymnasium in Leoben, where lugers Wolfgang Kindl (four-time Olympic silver medalist) and Nico Gleirscher (two-time Olympian) shared their experiences with two 6th-grade classes. They spoke about training, life in the Olympic Village, and the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and mental strength – drawing parallels to the challenges students face in everyday school life. Inspired by the discussion, the students went on to create short videos portraying the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect through scenes from their own lives.
Annotation: Photocredits for Featured Image at the top: Olympic Center Salzburg
