Ancient Olympia, Greece, October 17, 2021: A new era for Olympic education started on Sunday, October 17: the International Olympic Academy (IOA) in ancient Olympia has been officially reopened after a two-year renovation.
The revamped facilities of the centre for Olympic education and studies were inaugurated during a ceremony attended by IOC President Thomas Bach and the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The modernisation work was made possible by a EUR 12.5 million investment from the IOC.
“Here at the renovated International Olympic Academy next to the birthplace of the Olympic Games in ancient Olympia, the Olympic values will be brought to a new generation of young people who are athletes, students, teachers or people active in sport,” said the IOC President.
The project began in March 2020 following the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 at ancient Olympia, with work including the total renovation of the accommodation facilities, conference rooms, dining hall and kitchen, library and sports facilities.
The IOA was established in 1961 with the mission to preserve and spread the principles of the Olympic spirit; to study and implement the educational and social principles of Olympism; and to consolidate the scientific basis of the Olympic ideal.
Source: www.ioc.org
