The 55th European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly in Budapest brought together representatives of Europe’s National Olympic Committees to discuss the future of the Olympic Movement and preparations for the major multi-sport events ahead.
A key focus of the Assembly was the 4th European Games Istanbul 2027, with the Organising Committee presenting updates on the sports programme, venues and preparations as the countdown to the Games continues. EOC President Spyros CAPRALOS reaffirmed the growing importance of the European Games, highlighting their role in Olympic qualification and their increasing visibility across Europe.
Delegates also received reports from the IOC, ANOC and WADA, together with updates on the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and the 2027 European Youth Olympic Festivals in Brașov and Lignano Sabbiadoro.
Representing the European Table Tennis Union at the General Assembly, ETTU Deputy President Heike AHLERT welcomed the outcomes of the meeting and underlined the significance of the messages delivered by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, as well as the opportunities the European Games present for table tennis.
“ETTU welcomes the outcomes of the 54th EOC Assembly in Budapest. The speech by IOC President Kirsty COVENTRY at the EOC Assembly 2026 in Budapest focused on three main messages: the autonomy of sports, neutrality as a core principle, and solidarity/universality of the Olympic Movement. She emphasized that sports can only unleash their social power if their neutrality is protected and athletes’ voices are consistently heard.
The speech by the IOC President gives an important boost to European sport. The clear emphasis on neutrality, solidarity, and athlete focus confirms the path that the ETTU has been following for years. Europe has a special responsibility in table tennis – we create fair opportunities, support the athletes, and protect the autonomy of our sport.
The 2027 European Games in Istanbul have been confirmed as a key qualification platform for LA 2028 – a strong signal for all Olympic sports. 21 out of 22 continental sports federations are using the European Games as the continental qualification event for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
We as ETTU will use the coming months to work with the EOC and the organizers to create optimal sporting and organizational conditions. This close cooperation, combined with the media reach provided by the EBU, offers our sport valuable opportunities to showcase itself across Europe in an attractive and highly visible way.
Table tennis will play its part – with precision, fairness, and passion. We look forward to the journey ahead to Istanbul and on to Los Angeles.”
The next EOC General Assembly will be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 15 June 2027, just days before the opening of the fourth European Games.
