President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee Mihai Covaliu told the opening session of the General Assembly of the Association of European Olympic Committees (EOC), held at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, that he hopes that Europe will once again be the continent that will win the most medals at the Olympic Games in Paris.
„It is our responsibility to offer our athletes the best physical and mental conditions to reach the competitions in top shape. Paris 2024 will be challenging for all, there are 50 days to go and I wish them to exceed their limits in Paris. And, I hope, that Europe will once again be the continent that wins the most medals at the Olympic Games,” Covaliu said in his opening remarks to the EOC General Assembly.
He brought to the attention of the presidents and members of the Association of European Olympic Committees that Romania ranks among the top 20 nations in the world in terms of the number of Olympic medals and that, over the years, it has had athletes who have influenced other athletes’ careers.
„Sport is loved and is considered national pride in equal measure, we love summer and winter sports. This year, the Romanian Olympic movement celebrates 110 years of Olympism and 100 years since the first medal won in the Olympic arena, in Paris in 1924. Romania ranks among the top 20 nations in the world with 309 Olympic medals. Our champions became universal through their performances and put Romania on the Olympic map. Nadia Comaneci or Elisabeta Lipa, Ivan Patzaichin or Iolanda Balas represent models who have gone beyond Romania’s borders and have created an immeasurable legacy for every generation that wanted to equal or surpass them,” added Covaliu.
President of the Association of European Olympic Committees Spyros Capralos said that Bucharest, sometimes nicknamed Little Paris, is entitled to host the EOC General Assembly the year the Olympic Games return to Europe.
„Romania has a great history of Olympic success and this year marks the centenary of its first medal at the Olympic Games, when the Romanian men’s rugby team won bronze in Paris. Let’s not forget that the European Rugby Federation is led by Octavian Morariu, the IOC member for Romania. Since then, Romania has produced a long and impressive list of Olympic champions who have helped inspire generations and make it a country that is committed to sport. Here I would like to point out for those who know, that Mihai Covaliu is a fencing legend, having won the gold medal in Sydney and the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics. But equally impressive is the medal collection of Sport Minister Elisabeta Lipa, with 5 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze in 6 editions of the Olympic Games. (…) We are all delighted to see the return of the Olympic Games to Europe after more than a decade and look forward to a celebration of sport with many European successes,” said Spyros Capralos.
The 53rd session of the General Assembly of the Association of European Olympic Committees, which takes place on Thursday and Friday at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, is attended by the presidents and delegations of the national Olympic bodies, and President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach being one of the guests.
AGERPRES
