Since its establishment in 2018 with 24 founding members, the EOA has grown steadily. With each new year, at least one new academy joined us. In the last two years, the number of members rose to 30 with the latest addition of the NOAs of Kosovo and Malta. Now, the EOA is preparing for the next congress, which could see the confirmation of four new members.
The NOC of Luxembourg (COSL), which acts as the National Olympic Academy, submitted an application for membership in mid-October. It moves into line with recent membership requests from the NOCs of the Republic of Moldova and Andorra.
“We are very pleased about the interest shown by the three NOCs, which decided to take this step after discussions at the Games of the Small States in Malta and the European Youth Olympic Festival in Maribor. Our aim is to unite all National Olympic Academies of Europe under one umbrella,” said EOA President Manfred Laemmer. The accessions still have to be confirmed by the General Assembly.
Later in October, the Olympic Federation of Ireland applied for EOA membership which would make it the 34st Academy to join after the approval of the EOA General Assembly.
Members of the EOA can be National Olympic Academies or, if they are formally not existing, the National Olympic Committees. Membership is intended to promote exchange on how the Olympic idea can be disseminated in the respective country. This is done through the annual congress and other regional events organised by EOA members. The application is done by a letter to the EOA Executive Board.
This article was edited on October 27, 2023, to include the fourth membership application of the Olympic Federation of Ireland in 2023.
