Report coordinated by Dr Anita Sterea, Chair of the Olympic Heritage Commission
Six months after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the memory of this sporting celebration still resonates across Europe. The year held great significance for the Olympic Movement, as it marked 100 years since the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris — the final edition under Pierre de Coubertin’s presidency of the IOC — as well as 40 years since the Los Angeles Games of 1984.
Recognising that many Olympic academies have undertaken various local projects to promote the Olympic year, we have compiled the initiatives of European Olympic academies and created this article to gain a deeper understanding of how Olympic heritage was promoted and valued in 2024. This article is an initiative of the Olympic Heritage Commission of the EOA and shares interesting stories that can be used as examples of best practices. We are pleased to see so many different ideas and actions, and congratulate all the European academies that undertook such initiatives. Olympic Academy Projects Across Europe – 2024
Czech Olympic Academy
Czech-Slovak Online Project: “Czechoslovak Heritage – Anniversary Years…”
To commemorate the shared Olympic history of Czech and Slovak athletes (1924, 1964, 1984), the Slovak Olympic Committee, in collaboration with its Czech counterpart and national museums, developed a multilingual digital exhibition. The project, funded by Erasmus+, features rare archival materials and books on Athens 1896 and Paris 1924, highlighting the legacy of Czechoslovak Olympic athletes.
More information can be found here: https://www.csdedicstvo.com/en
Retrospective Monographs 1896–1936
The Czech Olympic Academy published several new books, including Athens 1896: The Rebirth of the Olympic Games and Paris 1924: Coubertin’s Farewell and the First Gold for Czechoslovakia. Each edition included rare photographs and corrections to past historical records. All Czech Olympic expedition members received the Paris 1924 book. Further titles, including London 1908, followed later in the year.
Zdeněk Němeček: Sculptor of Movement
This monograph honours the legacy of Czech sculptor Zdeněk Němeček, whose iconic sports sculptures adorn cities such as Prague, Frankfurt, Munich, and Tallinn.
Exhibitions
The Academy also curated exhibitions such as Karel Novák: Painter of Sport and Barbara Reichová: Unbreakable – The Olympians, with unique visual stories of athletes in Olympic villages and beyond.
Educational Outreach
A special Olympic-themed board game, with 100 topics and 1,000 questions, tested knowledge of Olympic history. Additional activities included educational zones at the Olympic Festival in Most, the Children and Youth Olympics in South Bohemia, and displays at the Czech House in Paris.
Portuguese Olympic Academy
Centenary of Portugal’s First Olympic Medal
An exhibition at the Military High School in Lisbon honoured the 1924 Paris Olympic equestrian team. Items on display included original medals, team reports, and a historic photograph of Pierre de Coubertin presenting the medal to Cap. Manuel Latino. The exhibition attracted wide attention and included a guided tour for alumni of the High School.
Lithuanian Olympic Academy
Scientific-Practical Conference
Held on 19 April in Klaipėda, the conference “100 Years of the Lithuanian Olympic Movement” included contributions from Olympians and sports historians, exploring key milestones and personal athlete experiences.
Olympic Education E-Book
A digital handbook, Paris Olympics 2024, introduced Olympic history and values, linking past and present Games.
Media & Translation Projects
Short videos celebrated Lithuanian Olympians and scientists, while the EOC’s Your Olympic Guide was translated into Lithuanian.
Romanian Olympic Committee
A Different Kind of Treasure
A centennial exhibition in the National Bank Palace showcased Romanian Olympic heritage, including Nadia Comăneci’s 1976 costume and Romania’s first Olympic medal (1924).
Ivan Patzaichin Museum
A private initiative led to the opening of a modern museum in the Danube Delta honouring Romania’s most decorated canoeist, attracting thousands of visitors in its first year.
German Olympic Academy
Olympic Day in Cologne
Held on June 18 at the German Sport & Olympia Museum, Olympic Day brought together 500 schoolchildren to try out various sports, meet athletes, and engage with Olympic history. Organised annually by the DOA, the event strengthens local engagement and long-term Olympic legacy.
German Olympic Youth Camp (DOJL)
Organised with the French NOC and FGYO, this year’s DOJL will be held in Paris (July 24 – August 7) with 100 German and French youth. Activities include cultural exchanges, competitions, and visits to exhibitions such as “Olympism – A Modern Invention, An Ancient Heritage” at the Louvre.
Croatian Olympic Academy
Art Competition: “School Sports and the Olympic Movement”
In cooperation with the French Embassy and the Croatian School Sports Federation, students submitted 661 artworks in Fauvism and Surrealism styles. Winners were exhibited at the French Institute in Croatia.
Olympic Workbook & Major Exhibition
The Academy published a comprehensive Olympic education book and co-organised the exhibition “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter” at the Archaeological Museum, accompanied by lectures and panel discussions featuring Olympians.
Annual Activities
Workshops reached over 4,300 students, and Olympic Day, held on 11 May, drew 527 runners. The Academy also supports the revival of the History of Croatian Sport magazine.
Olympic Academy of Ukraine
Educational Publishing
With IOC funding, the Academy produced Memorabilia in Olympic Culture and Heritage (672 pages), showcasing Olympic artefacts and commemorative awards.
Olympic Heritage in Higher Education
Courses such as “Cultural Heritage of Olympic Sports” reached over 1,500 students. Research projects and regional centres explored historiographies and biographies of athletes.
Scientific Conferences
In 2024, Ukraine hosted several academic events, including the international conference “Sustainability and Legacy in Sport” with over 500 global participants.
Olympic Corner Project
Over 200 Olympic Corners were established in educational and community spaces, featuring posters and books that made Olympic history accessible to a broad audience.
Museum Support & National Celebrations
More than 40 Olympic-themed museum spaces were supported. National events marked significant anniversaries, such as the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Olympic debut and 100 years since Nina Bocharova’s birth.
Final Words
Thank you to all National Olympic Academies for your inspiring and passionate contributions to preserving Olympic heritage. Should you wish to share further activities or connect with others featured here, we warmly invite you to get in touch. We wish you continued success with your 2025 initiatives!
