Like every year, EPSI’s Annual Conference it’s not just a conference. But this year in particular, it was an extraordinary four-day event that brought together industry leaders, sports experts, and project leaders. Set against the historical and culturally rich backdrop of Ancient Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the conference offered far more than just speeches and presentations.
From October 7-10, 2024, hosted by the International Olympic Academy, members from the EPSI community and beyond were treated to a lineup of presentations and discussions aligned with this year’s theme: “Olympic Values & Sport Innovation.” Throughout the event, participants explored the role of these values in the modern sports ecosystem.
Immersing in the Spirit of Olympia
Beyond the conference halls, attendees had the opportunity to connect with Olympia’s legacy. A special visit to the Ancient Olympic site and the de Coubertin Monument paid homage to the historical roots of sport and the Olympic movement. Participants experienced the Ancient Olympic Games first-hand and tried their hand at throwing the javelin, discus, running and long jump.
Networking at the Heart of the Conference
Networking was a key focus throughout the event, with innovative activities designed to foster collaboration and new ideas. The interactive “One Drink One Idea” session brought attendees together in a relaxed setting, encouraging free-flowing discussions over drinks, while the Concentric Circles activity allowed networking and Brokerage Tables provided structured platforms for brainstorming and pitching new project ideas. These activities facilitated valuable connections, sparking the foundation for potential business ventures and future collaborations in projects.
All the Speakers
- Nikos Choutas (Head of Educational Programme – International Olympic Academy)
- Christos Dimas (Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance)
- Samir Beg Ceric (COO of Blocksport)
- Mario Carlo Ferrario (Founder of MCF Capital Partners)
- Christina Tsiligkiri (Peace & Friendship Stadium President and CEO)
- Antonios Chrisanthakopoulos (Deputy mayor of Sports of Ancient Olympia)
- Konstantinos Chalioris (Director–General of Athens Olympic Complex)
- Andreas Glyniadakis (ex. Greek Olympic Basketball Player)
- Chatsatourian Grigoris (ex. Greek Olympic Handball Player)
- Vasilis Manousiadis (Ex Greek MMA Champion and Instructor)
- Spiros Karavoulis (CEO Sportcamp Group)
- Nikos Kerassovitis (President Hellenic Organization for Company Sport & Health – HOCSH)
- René Wijlens (Cluster Sports & Technology / European Platform for Sport Innovation
- Merit Clocquet (Sportinnovator)
- Eva Gazova (Olympics Slovakia Special)
- Bruno D’Hulster (SportaMundi)
- Charilaos Chondronasios (teacher, wrestling coach and history scholar)
- Borja Alejandro Terán Pickering (Applications Engineer, European Space Agency)
- Miguel Hernandez Littlewood (Policy Assistant at DG REGIO at European Commission)
- Francesca Passeri (Business Development Manager and Crowdfunding Expert, Area Europa)
- Teodora Pletosu (EU Affairs and Public Projects Specialist UEFA)
- Elena Ciarlo (ANCI Piemonte)
- Adam Jerzykowski (Fundacja Swim For a Dream)
- Evelien De Pauw (VIVES University of Applied Sciences)
- Tiberius Ignat (SKS Knowledge Services)
- Luca Giulio Brayda (Nextage srl)
- Pieter Vansteenkiste (Hylyght)
- Cosimo Renzi (eYOUaca project)
- Chinazo John Nnaya (Football Friendlies)
The success of the EPSI Annual Conference 2024 could not have been achieved without the collaboration with SPORTCAMP Loutraki, Youth Sports Training Center, and the auspices of the International Olympic Academy. This cooperation highlighted the importance of shared values in advancing the future of sport, education, and innovation. We already look forward to the next year’s conference, for which more info will come in the next months.
