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HISTORY

Our key dates
During the following years, the Europeanisation of the office took place as sport organisations from other EU countries started to join.
Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the first EU competence in the field of sport, the decision was taken to transform the office in a real European representation office under the umbrella of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).
On 20 February 2009, the office was officially transformed into "EOC EU Office". The partner network at the time of establishment consisted of 14 partner organisations. The EOC EU Office was officially opened by Patrick Hickey, President of the EOC, Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

Key dates of the EOC EU Office

European Evening of Sports

  • 10 November 2009: first edition with discussion on topics such as the Lisbon Treaty, integration and dual careers of athletes
  • 15 June 2011: second edition with the EU Work Plan for Sport and the integrity of sport as main topics
  • 27 February 2013: third edition with discussion on EU funding possibilities for sport and the fight against match-fixing
  • 6 May 2015: ​fourth edition with discussion on sport as a mean to tackle societal problems
  • ​19 June 2017: fifth edition with discussion on protection of European Sport Model
  • 21 June 2022: sixth edition with discussion on the future of major sports events in Europe

Who we are

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC) to the European institutions. It furthermore represents the interests of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other major sport organisations at national, European and international level.

What we do

Identify, monitor and analyse policy topics of relevance to sport at EU level and EU-funding opportunities for sport organisations

Inform our partners on ongoing developments at European level and potential impact/interest for sport

Provide support for and promote the interests of our partners at EU level

Organise and attend events, seminars and conferences

Manage EU sport-related projects and coordinate sport organisations active in EU projects

Which policy areas we cover

1. Societal role of sport, including: environment and climate, gender equality, education and training, health, physical activity, social inclusion, equal opportunities and volunteering

2. Economic dimension of sport, including: employment, licensing, media rights, online piracy, regional development, competition policy, state aid and taxation policy

3. Integrity of sport, including: safe sport, the fight against corruption in sport, against doping and against match-fixing

4. Financing of sport, especially the sustainable financing of sport and funding opportunities for sport provided by the EU-funding Programmes

5. Good Governance in sport and the organisation of sport in general
Spyros Capralos, EOC President, addressing the participants during the sixth edition of the European Evening of Sports in 2022
Official opening of the EOC EU Office by Patrick Hickey, Jacques Rogge, and Dr. Thomas Bach

Partner network

  • 20 February 2009: start of the EOC EU Office with 14 partners
  • 1 July 2009: four new partners join the office (Rugby Europe, ENGSO, LEN and FIFA)
  • 1 January 2010: the European Handball Federation (EHF) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 July 2010: the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 April 2012: the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 September 2014: the Czech Olympic Committee becomes partner of the office
  • 1 October 2015: ​the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) becomes partner of the office
  • ​1 February 2016:​ FIBA becomes partner of the office
  • 1 January 2017: ​the NOC of Finland follows VALO as partner of the office
  • 19 May 2017: ​the NOC of Portugal becomes partner of the office
  • 1 January 2018:​ ​the NOC of Croatia (HOO) becomes partner of the office
  • 9 November 2018: the NOC of Lithuania becomes partner of the office
  • 1 March 2019: the NOC of Cyprus becomes partner of the office
  • 22 July 2019: the NOC of Belgium (BOIC) becomes partner of the office
  • 29 January 2020: ASOIF becomes partner of the office
  • 1 January 2021: the NOC Poland becomes partner of the office
  • 1 April 2021: IBU becomes partner of the office
  • 1 January 2023: the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 October 2023: the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 February 2024: the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 March 2024: the European Paralympic Committee (EPC) becomes partner of the office
  • 1 January 2025: the NOC of Estonia becomes partner of the office.
  • 1 March 2025: the NOC of Ireland becomes partner of the office, bringing the total number to 36!

Thomas Bach, IOC President, during the European Evening of Sports 2022

“I cannot remember a time when we have faced so many crises at the same time. The mission of sport in addressing all these crises and changes is to make the world a better place through sport.”

About us

The EOC EU Office is the House of European Sport, representing the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the IOC and other major sport organisations to the European institutions in Brussels.
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