Brașov 2027 seminar gives European delegations a closer look at Festival venues

The competition venues and Athletes’ Villages for the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) Brașov 2027 provided a focus for the first Chefs de Mission Seminar, bringing together delegations from 38 European National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Through presentations and visits across the region, the two-day gathering in Romania gave representatives an overview of the facilities and services planned for the Festival, scheduled for 14–21 February 2027.

The seminar brought NOC delegations together with the Organising Committee, led by its President and Mayor of Brașov, George Scripcaru, and representatives of the European Olympic Committees (EOC). The EOC delegation included Executive Committee member and EYOF Commission Chair Líney Rut Halldórsdóttir, alongside Brașov 2027 Coordination Commission Chair Damir Stajner, who is also Secretary General of the Olympic Committee of Serbia.

Venue visits on the second day connected the planning discussions with the locations where athletes will stay and compete. The tour began at Cheile Gradistei Resort, which will accommodate one of the two Athletes’ Villages and the venues for biathlon, figure skating, short track speed skating and ski mountaineering. Delegations then travelled to Predeal to see the cross-country skiing and snowboard venues, followed by the ski jumping venue in Râșnov.

Poiana Brașov was the next stop, offering representatives a look at the second Athletes’ Village and the alpine skiing venue. The tour concluded at the Brașov ice hockey venue, which will stage the boys’ tournament. The previous day’s sport presentation had also introduced the venue in Târgu Secuiesc for the girls’ ice hockey tournament and the facility in Sfântu Gheorghe for the girls’ and boys’ 3×3 ice hockey tournaments.

These visits followed an opening day of plenary sessions in which the Organising Committee’s functional area leads outlined preparations across the Festival. Presentations covered NOC services, registration and accreditation, transport, accommodation and catering, protocol, medical services, anti-doping, volunteers and safeguarding. Delegations also received updates on IT, marketing, ceremonies, media and communication, security, environment, sustainability and legacy, and sport, together with the EYOA Programme and the Erasmus+ Sport project. A Figure Skating Judges’ Draw and a question-and-answer session concluded the day.

Reflecting on the seminar, Halldórsdóttir praised the progress across the venues and the Organising Committee’s detailed planning with less than five months remaining. She emphasised the EOC’s intention to continue working closely with Brașov 2027 towards a memorable Festival for Europe’s young athletes.

For EOC Executive Committee member and Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee President Mihai Covaliu, the seminar marked an important step in preparations and an opportunity to demonstrate progress at the venues and Athletes’ Villages. He also highlighted the personal significance of welcoming young European athletes to his home city, Brașov, and Romania’s determination to deliver an event reflecting its sporting tradition and hospitality.

Around 1,000 athletes aged 14 to 18 are expected at the 18th Winter EYOF. For many, the Festival will be their first experience of international multi-sport competition, alongside an introduction to the Olympic values and the spirit of Olympism.