WGI at “The 4th International Colloquium of Olympic Study Centers”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Roland Naul and Yoonkyu Song represented the WGI at “The 4th International Colloquium of Olympic Studies and Research Centers,” which took place from 22 to 24 July 2024 in Besançon and Lausanne.
The OSRC Colloquium was first held in 2012 in Loughborough, England, with the aim of promoting the spread of Olympism, advancing research, and building networks. Since then, it has been hosted by various countries to coincide with each Summer Olympics. As of July 2024, the network comprises 72 institutes across 26 countries. WGI, one of the OSRC’s founding institutes, has played a pivotal role in contributing to Olympic Education and historical research.
This year, in celebration of the Paris Summer Olympics, the University of Franche-Comté organized the colloquium in Besancon. The event began with a presentation on The Legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by the Executive Director for Impact and Heritage Paris 2024, followed by the IOC Olympic Studies Centre’s 2023 Annual Report. Over the next two days, fruitful and enthusiastic discussions took place, focusing on strategies to revitalize Olympic research and strengthen the networks among research centers worldwide. The event concluded with the Steering Committee’s presentation of the colloquium’s outcomes, along with key recommendations and next steps for the OSRCs.
The delegates also had the opportunity to visit the IOC Headquarters, the Olympic Museum, and the Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, where they learned about the preparations for the Paris Games and explored the research achievements and operations of these institutions.
Throughout the three-day event, the WGI delegation was warmly welcomed by the host institute, the University of Franche-Comté, along with the President of the Doubs département, the Mayor of Besançon, and the IOC Olympic Studies Centre. The WGI representatives actively promoted the institute’s role and significance as a key contributor to Olympic Education and historical research in Germany. They also engaged with delegates from institutes around the world, each with diverse areas of focus and expertise. WGI looks forward to continuing its leadership role in fostering closer collaborations with OSRCs globally.