Representatives of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee are taking part in a seminar for heads of mission for the IV European Games, Istanbul 2027

The seminar is an important part of the preparations for the upcoming European sporting event, as representatives of the National Olympic Committees have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the host city’s preparations, the sporting infrastructure, the athletes’ accommodation and key organisational aspects of staging the Games.

The seminar’s working programme began with organisational matters and plenary sessions, during which participants were presented with the overall preparation schedule, the operational concept for sports venues, issues relating to the functioning of the athletes’ villages, accommodation for delegations, the arrival and departure of participants, and transport arrangements. 

The Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees read out a welcome address from EOC President Spiros Kapralos, who later joined the seminar participants in person during a tour of the sports infrastructure. Mihai Kovali, Chair of the European Games Coordination Commission, also addressed the seminar at its opening.

Following the working sessions, participants visited the first venues for the upcoming Games. In particular, the delegations were shown the Northern Olympic Village in the Başakşehir district, where athletes competing in athletics, rugby sevens, badminton, judo, wrestling and shooting will be based. The complex is currently under construction, with completion scheduled for September 2026. The village will consist of five blocks and will accommodate approximately 5,000 residents. The seminar participants

also visited Atatürķ Olympic Park, where construction is underway on an athletics stadium, which is due to be completed in April 2027. In addition, the delegations toured the Başakşehir Youth and Sports Complex, which is already ready to host badminton competitions, as well as the Çebeci Sports Complex – a venue for judo and wrestling competitions. 

The second day of the seminar began with a visit to the Anatolian Olympic Village, situated in the Asian part of Istanbul. Unlike the other venues, this complex is already fully complete and is currently being used by students. During the European Games, 1,117 rooms will be available here for athletes and officials.

The village will accommodate representatives of triathlon, volleyball, modern pentathlon, rock climbing, padel, squash, taekwondo, karate, muay thai, kickboxing and canoe sprint. All necessary facilities have been provided for participants: two dining halls, each with a capacity of 1,000 seats, laundries, and rest and recreation areas.

Particular attention was paid to transport logistics during the seminar. According to the organisers, the average journey time from the Olympic villages to the sports venues will be around 30 minutes. The most remote venue will be the shooting range — the journey there may take over 50 minutes.

Following the infrastructure tour, participants continued their work during plenary sessions, during which they discussed issues relating to delegation registration, accreditation, sports applications, cooperation with National Olympic Committees, programmes for high-level officials, logistics, catering, security, medical services, anti-doping procedures and information technology. 

On the final day of the seminar, participants will continue their tour of the Istanbul 2027 sports infrastructure. The programme includes a visit to Florya Beach, where the beach rowing competitions will take place, the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall for the gymnastics tournaments, the Ataköy Water Sports Centre, as well as the ‘Yenikapi Eurasia’ Centre, which will host the archery, fencing and weightlifting competitions. A visit to the South Olympic Village in Çevizlibag is also planned.

The participation of representatives from the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee in the Heads of Mission seminar is an important stage in the Ukrainian delegation’s preparations for the 4th European Games and allows all organisational issues to be addressed in good time to ensure the right conditions for our athletes’ performances at Istanbul 2027.