The lessons learned from an edition of the Olympic Games are just as important as the competitions held on the field of play. With this objective in mind, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), welcomed representatives from 15 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to Lausanne on June 8 and 9 for the debriefing session following the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The meeting aims to gather experiences, identify challenges, and share best practices that can help strengthen the organization of future Olympic events.
Held at ANOC headquarters, the meeting has become a key platform for delegations to thoroughly analyze the operational and human aspects that shaped the experience of athletes, officials, and teams during the Games. Beyond evaluating logistical processes, the session focuses on how NOC feedback can be transformed into concrete improvements for future editions of the Olympic Games, ensuring that acquired knowledge is preserved and continues to enrich the Olympic Movement.
NOC Voices as a Driver of Improvement for the Games
The meeting was opened by ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg and James Macleod, IOC Director of National Olympic Committee Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365. They were joined virtually by representatives of LA28, French Alps 2030, and Brisbane 2032, who followed the discussions closely to incorporate valuable insights into the planning of their respective Games.
During her remarks, Lindberg emphasized the importance of ensuring that National Olympic Committees continue to play a central role in Olympic planning. According to her, the experiences of delegations and athletes provide a unique perspective on how the Games operate, helping identify opportunities for improvement that often only become visible once the event has concluded. She noted that these sessions serve as an essential platform for ensuring that lessons learned are passed from one edition of the Games to the next, contributing to higher organizational standards.
From Paris 2024 to Milan Cortina 2026: The Continuous Evolution of the Olympic Movement
One of the first topics discussed during the session was an IOC presentation reviewing the recommendations submitted by NOCs following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The presentation demonstrated how many of those observations were considered and implemented for Milan Cortina 2026, providing a tangible example of how feedback from delegations can directly improve Games operations and services. This process reflects a working philosophy based on active listening and continuous adaptation to the needs of those who participate in the event.
The discussion on the future continued with a presentation by Mathilde Meurisse, Sports Director of French Alps 2030, who outlined the vision and objectives of the upcoming Winter Olympic project. Throughout the two-day meeting, participants examined topics such as accreditation, transportation, accommodation, services for NOCs, Olympic Villages, arrivals and departures, as well as the overall athlete experience. Each of these areas was analyzed from a practical perspective, with the goal of identifying recommendations that will help future Organizing Committees create environments that are increasingly efficient, accessible, and centered on the people who bring the Olympic Games to life.
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