Ancient Olympia Officials Protest IOC's Decision to Hold Session in Neighbouring Region

Officials in Ancient Olympia are expressing their discontent over the decision to host the upcoming International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in a neighbouring region of southern Greece, rather than at the historic birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The IOC session, scheduled for March next year, will take place in Greece to select a successor to Thomas Bach, who has served as IOC president since 2013. While Greek Olympic officials acknowledge that Ancient Olympia lacks the necessary facilities to accommodate the event, they are advocating for the inclusion of the ancient site in the four-day meeting agenda.

Regional Governor Nektarios Farmakis expressed his disappointment, describing the decision as "a missed opportunity for something significant." In an online statement, he emphasized that Ancient Olympia is "not just a museum of old values" but a "living place of deep spiritual significance" that continues to attract global visitors.

Local officials, including the town’s mayor, also voiced their disappointment regarding the venue choice on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although specifics of the event have yet to be disclosed, officials from the Hellenic Olympic Committee have indicated that the IOC session will be held at a coastal resort in the Messinia region, located south of Ancient Olympia.

Ancient Olympia, situated about 290 kilometres (180 miles) southwest of Athens, is renowned as the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the site of the Olympic flame lighting ceremony, held every two years.

(Source: AP)